diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 586dd7f4bd..1d5891bcbe 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ Pieces are URL-addressable: `aesthetic.computer/piece-name`, params `piece-name:
 - `kidlisp/` - KidLisp docs and tools
 - `spec/` - Jasmine tests for KidLisp
 - `ants/` - AestheticAnts automated maintenance
-- `aesthetic-code/` - The terminal coding interface (`ac`); `cd aesthetic-code && ./install.sh`
+- `easel/` - Easel, the terminal coding interface (`ac`); `cd easel && ./install.sh`
 
 ## Notes
 
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/install.sh b/aesthetic-code/install.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index bcd7d9c17d..0000000000
--- a/aesthetic-code/install.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-set -euo pipefail
-
-PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-BIN_DIR="${AESTHETIC_CODE_BIN_DIR:-${HOME}/.local/bin}"
-CONFIG_DIR="${AESTHETIC_CODE_CONFIG_DIR:-${HOME}/.config/aesthetic-code}"
-FISH_CONFIG="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-${HOME}/.config}/fish/config.fish"
-ZSH_PROFILE="${ZDOTDIR:-${HOME}}/.zprofile"
-
-mkdir -p "$BIN_DIR" "$CONFIG_DIR"
-chmod +x "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/aesthetic"
-ln -sfn "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/aesthetic" "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic"
-ln -sfn "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/aesthetic" "$BIN_DIR/ac"
-
-if [[ -f "$FISH_CONFIG" ]] && ! grep -Fq '# aesthetic-code:start' "$FISH_CONFIG"; then
-    {
-        printf '\n# aesthetic-code:start\n'
-        printf 'if test -f %q\n' "$PROJECT_DIR/shell/aesthetic-code.fish"
-        printf '    source %q\n' "$PROJECT_DIR/shell/aesthetic-code.fish"
-        printf 'end\n'
-        printf '# aesthetic-code:end\n'
-    } >> "$FISH_CONFIG"
-fi
-
-if [[ -f "$ZSH_PROFILE" ]] && ! grep -Fq '# aesthetic-code:path:start' "$ZSH_PROFILE"; then
-    {
-        printf '\n# aesthetic-code:path:start\n'
-        printf 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"\n'
-        printf '# aesthetic-code:path:end\n'
-    } >> "$ZSH_PROFILE"
-fi
-
-case ":${PATH}:" in
-    *":${BIN_DIR}:"*) ;;
-    *) printf 'Add %s to PATH to use the commands.\n' "$BIN_DIR" >&2 ;;
-esac
-
-printf 'Installed Aesthetic Code:\n'
-printf '  %s\n' "$BIN_DIR/ac"
-printf '  %s\n' "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic"
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/shell/aesthetic-code.fish b/aesthetic-code/shell/aesthetic-code.fish
deleted file mode 100644
index ffeb2eeced..0000000000
--- a/aesthetic-code/shell/aesthetic-code.fish
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-# Aesthetic Code command integration for Fish.
-# Preserve older Aesthetic Computer helpers under explicit names before the
-# product claims `ac` and `aesthetic`.
-if functions -q ac; and not functions -q ac-repo
-    functions --copy ac ac-repo
-end
-
-if functions -q aesthetic; and not functions -q aesthetic-platform
-    functions --copy aesthetic aesthetic-platform
-end
-
-functions --erase ac aesthetic
-
-function ac --description 'Open Aesthetic Code'
-    command $HOME/.local/bin/aesthetic $argv
-end
-
-function aesthetic --description 'Open Aesthetic Code'
-    command $HOME/.local/bin/aesthetic $argv
-end
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/.gitignore b/easel/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/.gitignore
rename to easel/.gitignore
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/LICENSE b/easel/LICENSE
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/LICENSE
rename to easel/LICENSE
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/README.md b/easel/README.md
similarity index 93%
rename from aesthetic-code/README.md
rename to easel/README.md
index d76249595a..85cd6ecc57 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/README.md
+++ b/easel/README.md
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-# Aesthetic Code
+# Easel
 
-A coding interface for the terminal. Lives at `aesthetic-code/` in the
+A coding interface for the terminal. Lives at `easel/` in the
 Aesthetic Computer repository.
 
 ```sh
-cd aesthetic-code && ./install.sh
+cd easel && ./install.sh
 ac
 ```
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ engine bridge: a subprocess on stdio that the interface drives. A native
 local-inference engine can replace the bridge without changing the interface.
 
 Each live TUI publishes its own Slab marker, so the menubar and prox ledger can
-name, focus, wake, close, and track it as `aesthetic-code`, including which
+name, focus, wake, close, and track it as `easel`, including which
 @handle it acts as. The marker also carries the piece and its address, which the
 menubar draws as a scannable code on the session's prompt rock.
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ model are running.
 
 The Claude bridge runs `claude --print --input-format stream-json
 --output-format stream-json`, the same headless protocol the Claude Agent SDK
-speaks, driven directly over a pipe. That is why Aesthetic Code still has no
+speaks, driven directly over a pipe. That is why Easel still has no
 dependencies: a subprocess on stdio is the same shape as `codex app-server
 --stdio`, and it carries streaming, tool calls and approvals without a package
 tree behind it. Each bridge signs in with the vendor CLI's own credentials
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ written down in [`docs/local-contract.md`](docs/local-contract.md).
 
 ## The session's piece, live on a phone
 
-Opening Aesthetic Code opens a new blank piece. It gets a random pronounceable
+Opening Easel opens a new blank piece. It gets a random pronounceable
 name, it is a real file in the workspace, and a QR code for it sits in the
 bottom right of the interface. Scan the code and the piece runs on your phone;
 every edit the agent makes reaches it a moment later.
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ comment and declares `setup` or `draw` is taken as Lua at all.
 
 ## Account and publishing
 
-Aesthetic Code reads the shared Aesthetic Computer sign-in at `~/.ac-token`,
+Easel reads the shared Aesthetic Computer sign-in at `~/.ac-token`,
 the same file `ac-login` and the AC desktop apps use. `/login` runs the
 Authorization-Code + PKCE flow in your browser with a loopback callback and
 writes that file; a sign-in or sign-out anywhere in the suite updates the
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ camera at. It coalesces — a publish runs once the saves stop,
 never more than one at a time, and never twice for the same bytes — and it
 flushes the pending save on exit. Off by default, since it writes to a public
 route under your own handle: turn it on per session with the flag or
-`/autopublish`, or for every session with `AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1`, which
+`/autopublish`, or for every session with `EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1`, which
 `--no-autopublish` overrides. With it on the engine is told the piece is
 already live and told not to ask you to publish.
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ aesthetic doctor
 npm test
 ```
 
-Aesthetic Code is proprietary. See `LICENSE`.
+Easel is proprietary. See `LICENSE`.
 
 On Fish installations with existing `ac` or `aesthetic` functions, the
 installer preserves them as `ac-repo` and `aesthetic-platform`.
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/bin/aesthetic b/easel/bin/easel
similarity index 91%
rename from aesthetic-code/bin/aesthetic
rename to easel/bin/easel
index cdf6f9f6dd..0198215fd2 100755
--- a/aesthetic-code/bin/aesthetic
+++ b/easel/bin/easel
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 VERSION="0.4.0"
-DEFAULT_BACKEND="${AESTHETIC_CODE_BACKEND:-claude}"
+DEFAULT_BACKEND="${EASEL_BACKEND:-claude}"
 DEFAULT_CLAUDE_MODEL="claude-opus-5"
 script_path="${BASH_SOURCE[0]}"
 while [[ -L "$script_path" ]]; do
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Usage: ac [directory] [--runtime mjs|lisp|processing]
        aesthetic login | logout | whoami
        aesthetic publish <file> [slug]
 
-Open the Aesthetic Code terminal interface in a workspace, or manage the
+Open the Easel terminal interface in a workspace, or manage the
 shared Aesthetic Computer sign-in (~/.ac-token) and publish a piece under
 your @handle at https://aesthetic.computer/@handle/slug.
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ claude-opus-5) or codex. --model names the model on that bridge, and
 
 --autopublish publishes the piece under your @handle a couple of seconds
 after every save, so the session's URL is live the whole time it is being
-worked on. Off by default; AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1 turns it on for
+worked on. Off by default; EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1 turns it on for
 every session, --no-autopublish overrides that, and /autopublish toggles
 it mid-session.
 EOF
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ has_command() {
 }
 
 doctor() {
-    printf 'Aesthetic Code %s\n' "$VERSION"
+    printf 'Easel %s\n' "$VERSION"
     printf 'interface: %s\n' "$PROJECT_DIR/src/tui.mjs"
     printf 'control plane: local\n'
     printf 'telemetry: off\n'
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ case "${1:-}" in
         exit 0
         ;;
     --version|-V|version)
-        printf 'Aesthetic Code %s\n' "$VERSION"
+        printf 'Easel %s\n' "$VERSION"
         exit 0
         ;;
     doctor)
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ runtime=""
 backend=""
 model=""
 # Empty means "whatever the environment says"; the interface reads
-# AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH itself, and these two flags override it.
+# EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH itself, and these two flags override it.
 autopublish=""
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     case "$1" in
@@ -189,13 +189,13 @@ esac
 has_command "$selected_backend" ||
     fail "the $selected_backend engine bridge is not installed"
 
-if [[ "${AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
-    printf 'interface=aesthetic-code\n'
+if [[ "${EASEL_DRY_RUN:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+    printf 'interface=easel\n'
     printf 'directory=%s\n' "$target_directory"
     printf 'resume=%s\n' "$([[ -n "$resume_thread" ]] && printf yes || printf no)"
     printf 'initial_prompt=%s\n' "$([[ -n "$initial_prompt" ]] && printf yes || printf no)"
     printf 'runtime=%s\n' "${runtime:-mjs}"
-    printf 'autopublish=%s\n' "${autopublish:-$([[ "${AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH:-0}" =~ ^(1|on|true|yes)$ ]] && printf on || printf off)}"
+    printf 'autopublish=%s\n' "${autopublish:-$([[ "${EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH:-0}" =~ ^(1|on|true|yes)$ ]] && printf on || printf off)}"
     printf 'backend=%s\n' "$selected_backend"
     printf 'model=%s\n' "${model:-$([[ "$selected_backend" == claude ]] && printf '%s' "$DEFAULT_CLAUDE_MODEL")}"
     exit 0
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ fi
 [[ -t 0 && -t 1 ]] || fail "an interactive terminal is required"
 
 export AESTHETIC_CODE=1
-export AESTHETIC_CODE_VERSION="$VERSION"
+export EASEL_VERSION="$VERSION"
 arguments=("--cwd" "$target_directory")
 if [[ -n "$resume_thread" ]]; then arguments+=("--resume" "$resume_thread"); fi
 if [[ -n "$initial_prompt" ]]; then arguments+=("--prompt" "$initial_prompt"); fi
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/docs/local-contract.md b/easel/docs/local-contract.md
similarity index 91%
rename from aesthetic-code/docs/local-contract.md
rename to easel/docs/local-contract.md
index 5da2479d68..fd5de31e41 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/docs/local-contract.md
+++ b/easel/docs/local-contract.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Local contract
 
-Aesthetic Code requires no Aesthetic Code server.
+Easel requires no Easel server.
 
 - No runtime account, telemetry, analytics, cloud sync, or hosted control plane.
 - Configuration, session records, memory, and credentials remain on machines
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ and the session token to `aesthetic.computer` only when the user runs
 `/publish`. The engine bridge never receives the token; publishing is an
 interface action, not an agent tool.
 
-Auto-publish (`--autopublish`, `AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1`, `/autopublish`)
+Auto-publish (`--autopublish`, `EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1`, `/autopublish`)
 is the one way that becomes repeated rather than per-command: with it on, the
 interface publishes the session's piece a couple of seconds after every save,
 and the last save is flushed on the way out. It is off by default and has to be
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ workspace paths, no conversation. The channel token is random per session and is
 never reused.
 
 Pushing is the interface's own action, on a file the user can see, and stops
-when the session ends. It is the one thing Aesthetic Code sends without being
+when the session ends. It is the one thing Easel sends without being
 asked each time, so it is worth stating plainly: while the interface is open,
 the piece on screen is repeatedly leaving the machine.
 
 ## Inference boundary
 
-The terminal interface is always Aesthetic Code. Engines are internal bridges,
+The terminal interface is always Easel. Engines are internal bridges,
 not alternate client interfaces or command shortcuts.
 
 Two bridges exist, both remote: Claude Code in headless stream-json mode (the
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ default, on `claude-opus-5`) and Codex app-server. `--backend` and
 `/backend` choose between them and `--model` and `/model` name the model. The
 interface labels remote inference before a prompt is sent. Provider terms
 govern that traffic, and each bridge signs in with its own vendor's existing
-credentials on this machine; Aesthetic Code stores no key of its own.
+credentials on this machine; Easel stores no key of its own.
 
 Neither bridge inherits the user's own agent configuration. Codex is started
 with `on-request` approvals and a `workspace-write` sandbox regardless of what
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Codex runs commands under an operating-system sandbox: writes are confined to
 the workspace and `networkAccess` is false, so an approved command still cannot
 reach the network without a second, explicit escalation.
 
-Claude Code has no equivalent sandbox. On that bridge Aesthetic Code confines
+Claude Code has no equivalent sandbox. On that bridge Easel confines
 the file tools to the workspace, removes WebFetch and WebSearch, and routes
 every prompt to this terminal — and Claude does prompt before a command that
 touches the network — but the prompt is the whole boundary. A shell command the
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ user approves runs with the user's own privileges and can reach the network.
 Read-only commands are auto-approved by Claude's own classifier, as reads
 inside the sandbox are on the Codex bridge.
 
-Aesthetic Code therefore does not claim that agent tools are network-isolated
+Easel therefore does not claim that agent tools are network-isolated
 on the Claude bridge. Where that matters, `--backend codex` is the bridge with
 a kernel behind its approvals.
 
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/docs/openrouter-backend.md b/easel/docs/openrouter-backend.md
similarity index 97%
rename from aesthetic-code/docs/openrouter-backend.md
rename to easel/docs/openrouter-backend.md
index 803f5716d9..1eb6d9ae7a 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/docs/openrouter-backend.md
+++ b/easel/docs/openrouter-backend.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Written 2026-09-11. Prices quoted are from `https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/models`,
 pulled that morning. Nothing here is implemented.
 
-The goal is to stop requiring every person who opens Aesthetic Code to already
+The goal is to stop requiring every person who opens Easel to already
 hold a Claude or Codex subscription. Today both bridges sign in with a vendor
 CLI's own credentials, which is elegant — no key, no server, no account — and
 also a wall: the interface is unusable to anyone who has not already paid
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ Worth noting, because it changes how bad this option feels: OpenRouter has an
 OAuth PKCE flow at `https://openrouter.ai/auth` that exchanges a code at
 `POST /api/v1/auth/keys` for a user-scoped key billed to that user's credits,
 and it documents a headless mode with no `callback_url` where the user copies
-the code across. Aesthetic Code already runs an Authorization-Code + PKCE flow
+the code across. Easel already runs an Authorization-Code + PKCE flow
 with a loopback callback in `src/ac-session.mjs`; a second one against a
 different issuer is the same ninety lines. So "bring your own key" can be
 `/login`-shaped rather than paste-shaped.
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ The trust boundary in the recommended option is worth stating flatly: Aesthetic
 Computer never sees the prompts, but it does mint a bearer token that spends its
 money, and a user who extracts that token from their own machine — trivially,
 it is a file they own — can spend the cap however they like, including on
-something that is not Aesthetic Code. The cap is therefore the entire control.
+something that is not Easel. The cap is therefore the entire control.
 It should be small, it should reset, and it should be revocable per handle.
 
 ## Whether this needs a second kind of engine
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ product, and writes the answer back to Redis. The invalidation half is in
 `ticket.js`, which on `customer.subscription.updated` reads
 `customer.metadata.sub` and deletes the cache entry. That pair — a Redis-cached
 entitlement keyed on the Auth0 sub, invalidated by a webhook — is precisely what
-a paid Aesthetic Code tier needs, and it can be ported by changing the product
+a paid Easel tier needs, and it can be ported by changing the product
 id.
 
 `system/netlify/functions/news-toll.mjs` is the cleanest single-file reference
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ of magnitude.
 
 These are @jeffrey's own sessions in the full Aesthetic Computer tree, on a
 million-token context, and they are an upper bound rather than a typical
-Aesthetic Code session — the interface opens on one small piece file in a
+Easel session — the interface opens on one small piece file in a
 workspace the user chose. So, bottom-up: thirty turns, context growing from
 about 15k tokens to about 60k, averaging 35k. That is roughly 1.05M cache-read
 tokens, 300k cache-write, 20k output. Priced across the shelf at today's
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ may be issued or re-issued, plus a short `expires_at` so an abandoned key stops
 mattering — and it is a partial one. Worth testing before promising a tier.
 
 Runaway spend inside a single session is the most likely everyday failure, and
-it is not malice. Aesthetic Code auto-approves tool calls by default:
+it is not malice. Easel auto-approves tool calls by default:
 `handleRequest` in `src/tui.mjs` answers `accept` unless `/ask on` is set,
 because the first real session spent two of its two hours and nineteen minutes
 parked on prompts with nobody watching. That default is right for a piece
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ from unauthenticated route probes, not from a working call.
   cannot answer. The free tier's viability is a quality question, not a price
   one.
 - **The realistic monthly-active handle count.** 2,814 handles exist. How many
-  would open Aesthetic Code in a month is a guess, and the $300 figure moves
+  would open Easel in a month is a guess, and the $300 figure moves
   linearly with it.
 
 ## What this changes in the contract
diff --git a/easel/install.sh b/easel/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..71f8889c54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/easel/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+BIN_DIR="${EASEL_BIN_DIR:-${HOME}/.local/bin}"
+CONFIG_DIR="${EASEL_CONFIG_DIR:-${HOME}/.config/easel}"
+FISH_CONFIG="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-${HOME}/.config}/fish/config.fish"
+ZSH_PROFILE="${ZDOTDIR:-${HOME}}/.zprofile"
+
+mkdir -p "$BIN_DIR" "$CONFIG_DIR"
+chmod +x "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/easel"
+ln -sfn "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/easel" "$BIN_DIR/easel"
+ln -sfn "$PROJECT_DIR/bin/easel" "$BIN_DIR/ac"
+
+# The tool was called `aesthetic` before it was called Easel, and that name
+# belongs to the platform helper it displaced. Take it back only if it is still
+# our own symlink — never touch a real file someone else put there.
+if [[ -L "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic" ]] && [[ "$(readlink "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic")" == *"/bin/aesthetic" || "$(readlink "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic")" == *"/bin/easel" ]]; then
+    rm -f "$BIN_DIR/aesthetic"
+fi
+
+# The tool shipped as Aesthetic Code first, and its Fish block named that path.
+# The block is inert once the path is gone — `test -f` simply fails — but it
+# lingers on every machine that ever installed the old name, so take it out.
+if [[ -f "$FISH_CONFIG" ]] && grep -Fq '# aesthetic-code:start' "$FISH_CONFIG"; then
+    /usr/bin/sed -i '' '/# aesthetic-code:start/,/# aesthetic-code:end/d' "$FISH_CONFIG"
+fi
+
+if [[ -f "$FISH_CONFIG" ]] && ! grep -Fq '# easel:start' "$FISH_CONFIG"; then
+    {
+        printf '\n# easel:start\n'
+        printf 'if test -f %q\n' "$PROJECT_DIR/shell/easel.fish"
+        printf '    source %q\n' "$PROJECT_DIR/shell/easel.fish"
+        printf 'end\n'
+        printf '# easel:end\n'
+    } >> "$FISH_CONFIG"
+fi
+
+if [[ -f "$ZSH_PROFILE" ]] && ! grep -Fq '# easel:path:start' "$ZSH_PROFILE"; then
+    {
+        printf '\n# easel:path:start\n'
+        printf 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"\n'
+        printf '# easel:path:end\n'
+    } >> "$ZSH_PROFILE"
+fi
+
+case ":${PATH}:" in
+    *":${BIN_DIR}:"*) ;;
+    *) printf 'Add %s to PATH to use the commands.\n' "$BIN_DIR" >&2 ;;
+esac
+
+printf 'Installed Easel:\n'
+printf '  %s\n' "$BIN_DIR/ac"
+printf '  %s\n' "$BIN_DIR/easel"
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/package.json b/easel/package.json
similarity index 83%
rename from aesthetic-code/package.json
rename to easel/package.json
index 24274b0ffe..2e890b9143 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/package.json
+++ b/easel/package.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "name": "aesthetic-code",
+  "name": "easel",
   "version": "0.4.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
diff --git a/easel/shell/easel.fish b/easel/shell/easel.fish
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bbdcb1b0cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/easel/shell/easel.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Easel command integration for Fish.
+#
+# Easel claims `ac` and `easel`. It deliberately does not claim `aesthetic`
+# any more: that name belongs to the Aesthetic Computer platform helper, and
+# the tool only held it while it was still called Aesthetic Code.
+if functions -q ac; and not functions -q ac-repo
+    functions --copy ac ac-repo
+end
+
+functions --erase ac easel
+
+function ac --description 'Open Easel'
+    command $HOME/.local/bin/easel $argv
+end
+
+function easel --description 'Open Easel'
+    command $HOME/.local/bin/easel $argv
+end
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/ac-session.mjs b/easel/src/ac-session.mjs
similarity index 96%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/ac-session.mjs
rename to easel/src/ac-session.mjs
index 5feb25b90e..8928d4d58e 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/ac-session.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/ac-session.mjs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // Every AC desktop app reads one file, ~/.ac-token, minted by `ac-login` with
 // Auth0 Authorization-Code + PKCE and a loopback callback. This module reads
 // and watches that file, refreshes the access token, and can run the same
-// sign-in flow itself so Aesthetic Code needs no other checkout. Only the
+// sign-in flow itself so Easel needs no other checkout. Only the
 // handle is ever displayed; email and name stay in the file.
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
 import { createHash, randomBytes } from "node:crypto";
@@ -20,17 +20,17 @@ export const SITE = "https://aesthetic.computer";
 // Cloudflare fronts aesthetic.computer and rejects a bare user agent (1010).
 export const USER_AGENT =
   "Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/537.36 " +
-  "(KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/125.0 Safari/537.36 aesthetic-code";
+  "(KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/125.0 Safari/537.36 easel";
 
 const base64url = (buffer) =>
   buffer.toString("base64").replace(/\+/g, "-").replace(/\//g, "_").replace(/=/g, "");
 
 const LANDING = `<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8">
-<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Signed in · Aesthetic Code</title>
+<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Signed in · Easel</title>
 <style>body{margin:0;min-height:100vh;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
 background:rgb(70,50,100);color:white;font-family:monospace}main{text-align:center;padding:2em}
 h1{font-weight:normal;color:rgb(255,100,255)}p{color:rgb(220,180,255)}</style></head>
-<body><main><h1>Signed in</h1><p>Return to Aesthetic Code. You can close this tab.</p></main></body></html>`;
+<body><main><h1>Signed in</h1><p>Return to Easel. You can close this tab.</p></main></body></html>`;
 
 export function openInBrowser(url) {
   const command =
@@ -210,13 +210,13 @@ export class ACSession extends EventEmitter {
           const failure = url.searchParams.get("error");
           if (failure) {
             response.writeHead(400, { "content-type": "text/plain" });
-            response.end("Sign-in failed. Return to Aesthetic Code.");
+            response.end("Sign-in failed. Return to Easel.");
             settle(reject, new Error(url.searchParams.get("error_description") || failure));
             return;
           }
           if (url.searchParams.get("state") !== state) {
             response.writeHead(400, { "content-type": "text/plain" });
-            response.end("State mismatch. Return to Aesthetic Code and retry.");
+            response.end("State mismatch. Return to Easel and retry.");
             settle(reject, new Error("sign-in state mismatch — retry /login"));
             return;
           }
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/app-server.mjs b/easel/src/app-server.mjs
similarity index 97%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/app-server.mjs
rename to easel/src/app-server.mjs
index 6451144fc4..0cbfff4abd 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/app-server.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/app-server.mjs
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ export class AppServer extends EventEmitter {
       env: {
         ...process.env,
         ...this.environment,
-        AESTHETIC_CODE: "1",
-        AESTHETIC_CODE_VERSION: VERSION,
+        EASEL: "1",
+        EASEL_VERSION: VERSION,
       },
       stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
     });
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ export class AppServer extends EventEmitter {
 
     await this.request("initialize", {
       clientInfo: {
-        name: "aesthetic_code",
-        title: "Aesthetic Code",
+        name: "easel",
+        title: "Easel",
         version: VERSION,
       },
       capabilities: { experimentalApi: true },
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/autopublish.mjs b/easel/src/autopublish.mjs
similarity index 98%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/autopublish.mjs
rename to easel/src/autopublish.mjs
index 66c7e168ce..7cbec370cf 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/autopublish.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/autopublish.mjs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 //
 // It is off unless asked for. Publishing is outward-facing — the bytes land on
 // a public route under the user's own name — so it stays an opt-in for the
-// session (`/autopublish on`, `--autopublish`, AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1)
+// session (`/autopublish on`, `--autopublish`, EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1)
 // rather than something the interface starts doing on its own.
 //
 // Saves arrive far faster than a publish should: an agent turn can write a file
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/backends.mjs b/easel/src/backends.mjs
similarity index 96%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/backends.mjs
rename to easel/src/backends.mjs
index 97bcc259a5..e6b3d02aee 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/backends.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/backends.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// backends.mjs — the engine bridges Aesthetic Code can drive.
+// backends.mjs — the engine bridges Easel can drive.
 //
 // A bridge is a subprocess speaking a line protocol over stdio. The interface
 // holds the same conversation over either of them — a thread, turns inside it,
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/claude-server.mjs b/easel/src/claude-server.mjs
similarity index 98%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/claude-server.mjs
rename to easel/src/claude-server.mjs
index 52aa4cff5e..5a5f5b2504 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/claude-server.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/claude-server.mjs
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ export class ClaudeServer extends EventEmitter {
         behavior: "deny",
         message:
           decision === "cancel"
-            ? "Cancelled in Aesthetic Code."
-            : "Denied in Aesthetic Code.",
+            ? "Cancelled in Easel."
+            : "Denied in Easel.",
       };
     }
     this.#send({
@@ -269,8 +269,8 @@ export class ClaudeServer extends EventEmitter {
       env: {
         ...process.env,
         ...this.environment,
-        AESTHETIC_CODE: "1",
-        AESTHETIC_CODE_VERSION: VERSION,
+        EASEL: "1",
+        EASEL_VERSION: VERSION,
       },
       stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
     });
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ export class ClaudeServer extends EventEmitter {
         response: {
           subtype: "error",
           request_id: message.request_id,
-          error: `Aesthetic Code does not support ${request.subtype} yet`,
+          error: `Easel does not support ${request.subtype} yet`,
         },
       });
       return;
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/cli.mjs b/easel/src/cli.mjs
similarity index 96%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/cli.mjs
rename to easel/src/cli.mjs
index 100081c762..606bf0a394 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/cli.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/cli.mjs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ try {
   } else if (command === "publish") {
     const [file, slug = ""] = rest.filter((argument) => !argument.startsWith("--"));
     if (!file) fail("usage: aesthetic publish <file> [slug]");
-    if (process.env.AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN === "1") {
+    if (process.env.EASEL_DRY_RUN === "1") {
       const plan = planPublish({ file, slug, handle: session.handle || "handle" });
       out(`would publish ${plan.path} as ${plan.route}`);
     } else {
diff --git a/easel/src/easel.mjs b/easel/src/easel.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cdd98a91bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/easel/src/easel.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+// The easel.
+//
+// The tool is named after the thing a painter stands a canvas on, so a session
+// opens by standing one up. What goes on the canvas is the only two facts a
+// session starts with that are worth knowing: the name of the piece, and the
+// address where it can already be reached. Both are true from the first second
+// now — the blank publishes as soon as the handle resolves — so the splash is
+// reporting rather than promising.
+//
+// The name is written on rather than printed, one character at a time, because
+// that is what an easel is for. The address follows once the name is finished.
+// Nothing else moves: the frame and the legs are standing from the first frame,
+// since an easel that assembles itself is a cartoon and this one has to sit
+// above a transcript someone is about to read.
+//
+// Pure, like the mascot. A caller asks what the easel looks like at a given
+// number of milliseconds and gets lines back. Nothing schedules, nothing draws,
+// nothing reads a clock.
+
+// Milliseconds per character of the piece name, and the pause before the
+// address starts. Slow enough to read as handwriting, short enough that the
+// whole thing is over before anyone has finished their first prompt.
+const WRITE_MS = 55;
+const PAUSE_MS = 260;
+const ADDRESS_MS = 16;
+// How long the finished easel stands before the caller may stop asking.
+const HOLD_MS = 900;
+
+const MIN_INNER = 13;
+const MAX_INNER = 46;
+
+function innerWidth(piece, address) {
+  const longest = Math.max(piece.length, address.length);
+  return Math.min(MAX_INNER, Math.max(MIN_INNER, longest + 2));
+}
+
+function centre(text, width) {
+  if (text.length >= width) return text.slice(0, width);
+  const left = Math.floor((width - text.length) / 2);
+  return " ".repeat(left) + text + " ".repeat(width - text.length - left);
+}
+
+// The whole reveal, in milliseconds: name written, pause, address written, hold.
+export function easelDuration(piece = "", address = "") {
+  return (
+    String(piece).length * WRITE_MS +
+    PAUSE_MS +
+    String(address).length * ADDRESS_MS +
+    HOLD_MS
+  );
+}
+
+// How many characters of each line are showing at `elapsed`.
+function revealed(elapsed, piece, address) {
+  const ms = Math.max(0, Number(elapsed) || 0);
+  const written = Math.min(piece.length, Math.floor(ms / WRITE_MS));
+  if (written < piece.length) return { piece: written, address: 0 };
+  const after = ms - piece.length * WRITE_MS - PAUSE_MS;
+  if (after <= 0) return { piece: piece.length, address: 0 };
+  return {
+    piece: piece.length,
+    address: Math.min(address.length, Math.floor(after / ADDRESS_MS)),
+  };
+}
+
+// One frame. `piece` is the slug as it appears on disk; `address` is the bare
+// host+path the rock is showing. Either may be empty — a session that is not
+// signed in has no address yet, and the canvas simply stays blank there rather
+// than apologising for it.
+export function easelFrame(elapsed = 0, { piece = "", address = "" } = {}) {
+  const name = String(piece || "");
+  const where = String(address || "");
+  const inner = innerWidth(name, where);
+  const shown = revealed(elapsed, name, where);
+
+  // A cursor while the name is still being written, so the pause between the
+  // name landing and the address starting does not read as a hang.
+  const writing = shown.piece < name.length;
+  const nameText = name.slice(0, shown.piece) + (writing ? "▌" : "");
+
+  const top = "┌" + "─".repeat(inner) + "┐";
+  const blank = "│" + " ".repeat(inner) + "│";
+  const nameRow = "│" + centre(nameText, inner) + "│";
+  const addressRow = "│" + centre(where.slice(0, shown.address), inner) + "│";
+
+  // The bottom edge carries the mast the legs hang from, so the easel reads as
+  // one object rather than a box resting on two sticks.
+  const mastAt = Math.floor(inner / 2);
+  const bottom =
+    "└" + "─".repeat(mastAt) + "┬" + "─".repeat(inner - mastAt - 1) + "┘";
+
+  const pad = " ".repeat(mastAt);
+  return [
+    top,
+    blank,
+    nameRow,
+    blank,
+    addressRow,
+    bottom,
+    pad + "╱ ╲",
+    pad.slice(0, Math.max(0, mastAt - 1)) + "╱   ╲",
+  ];
+}
+
+// When the easel next needs repainting, or null once it is finished standing
+// there and the caller can stop asking.
+export function easelNextFrame(elapsed = 0, { piece = "", address = "" } = {}) {
+  const ms = Math.max(0, Number(elapsed) || 0);
+  if (ms >= easelDuration(piece, address)) return null;
+  const shown = revealed(ms, String(piece), String(address));
+  if (shown.piece < String(piece).length) return WRITE_MS;
+  if (shown.address < String(address).length) return ADDRESS_MS;
+  return HOLD_MS;
+}
+
+export const EASEL_HEIGHT = 8;
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/live.mjs b/easel/src/live.mjs
similarity index 99%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/live.mjs
rename to easel/src/live.mjs
index 286ac2e150..c0b0c84e68 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/live.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/live.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // live.mjs — the session's piece, and the channel that carries it to a phone.
 //
-// Every Aesthetic Code session opens on a new blank piece with a random name.
+// Every Easel session opens on a new blank piece with a random name.
 // The piece is a real file in the workspace, so the agent edits it like any
 // other file, and every save is pushed to Aesthetic Computer's `/run` endpoint
 // on a private code channel. Anything watching that channel — a phone that
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/mascot.mjs b/easel/src/mascot.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/mascot.mjs
rename to easel/src/mascot.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/names.mjs b/easel/src/names.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/names.mjs
rename to easel/src/names.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/publish.mjs b/easel/src/publish.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/publish.mjs
rename to easel/src/publish.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/qr.mjs b/easel/src/qr.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/qr.mjs
rename to easel/src/qr.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/render.mjs b/easel/src/render.mjs
similarity index 99%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/render.mjs
rename to easel/src/render.mjs
index 490a0aa334..0a5d6c712f 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/render.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/render.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// render.mjs — one frame of the Aesthetic Code interface.
+// render.mjs — one frame of the Easel interface.
 //
 // The palette is the Aesthetic Computer prompt's dark scheme (disks/prompt.mjs
 // `scheme.dark`): purple ground, pink prompt block, orange highlight, magenta
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const slabState = join(
   process.env.SLAB_HOME || join(homedir(), ".local", "share", "slab"),
   "state",
 );
-const groundMode = (process.env.AESTHETIC_CODE_GROUND || "").toLowerCase();
+const groundMode = (process.env.EASEL_GROUND || "").toLowerCase();
 const slabManagesWindow =
   process.env.TERM_PROGRAM === "Apple_Terminal" && existsSync(slabState);
 export const paintsGround =
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/runtimes.mjs b/easel/src/runtimes.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/runtimes.mjs
rename to easel/src/runtimes.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/slab-session.mjs b/easel/src/slab-session.mjs
similarity index 99%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/slab-session.mjs
rename to easel/src/slab-session.mjs
index 420a795c2b..4a3558a39c 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/slab-session.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/slab-session.mjs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class SlabSession {
       summary: "aesthetic code",
       tty,
       agent_pid: pid,
-      agent_type: "aesthetic-code",
+      agent_type: "easel",
       handle: "",
       // The piece this session is writing, and the address a phone reaches it
       // at. The menubar draws these as a scannable code on the rock, which is
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/tui.mjs b/easel/src/tui.mjs
similarity index 93%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/tui.mjs
rename to easel/src/tui.mjs
index f2979d3c54..5eefbb4f42 100755
--- a/aesthetic-code/src/tui.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/tui.mjs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import process from "node:process";
 import { ACSession } from "./ac-session.mjs";
 import { AutoPublisher } from "./autopublish.mjs";
+import { EASEL_HEIGHT, easelFrame, easelNextFrame } from "./easel.mjs";
 import { backendFor, backendMenu, DEFAULT_BACKEND } from "./backends.mjs";
 import { LivePiece } from "./live.mjs";
 import { publishPiece } from "./publish.mjs";
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ const resumeThreadId = option("--resume");
 const initialPrompt = option("--prompt");
 // Which engine bridge drives the conversation, and on which model. The bridge
 // can be swapped mid-session with /backend, so neither is a constant.
-let backend = backendFor(option("--backend") || process.env.AESTHETIC_CODE_BACKEND || DEFAULT_BACKEND);
+let backend = backendFor(option("--backend") || process.env.EASEL_BACKEND || DEFAULT_BACKEND);
 let model = option("--model") || backend.defaultModel;
 
 const session = new ACSession();
@@ -93,11 +94,11 @@ const state = {
 const autopublish = new AutoPublisher({
   // On by default. The scanned address is the published one, so a session
   // that does not publish has nothing to point a camera at; `--no-autopublish`
-  // and `AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=0` both opt out, and a signed-out session
+  // and `EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=0` both opt out, and a signed-out session
   // never reaches the attempt.
   enabled:
     !flag("--no-autopublish") &&
-    !/^(0|off|false|no)$/i.test(process.env.AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH || ""),
+    !/^(0|off|false|no)$/i.test(process.env.EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH || ""),
   publish: () => publishPiece({ file: live.file, slug: live.slug, session, cwd }),
 });
 
@@ -139,11 +140,11 @@ function developerInstructions() {
         ]
       : [
           "Publishing: writing a file under system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/ or anywhere else does NOT make a piece live.",
-          "A piece is live only after the user runs the Aesthetic Code command `/publish <file> [slug]`, which uploads it under their @handle at https://aesthetic.computer/@handle/slug.",
+          "A piece is live only after the user runs the Easel command `/publish <file> [slug]`, which uploads it under their @handle at https://aesthetic.computer/@handle/slug.",
           "When you finish a piece, end with the exact /publish command for the user to run. Never tell the user to visit a route that has not been published.",
         ];
   return [
-    "You are running inside Aesthetic Code, a terminal interface for Aesthetic Computer (AC) work.",
+    "You are running inside Easel, a terminal interface for Aesthetic Computer (AC) work.",
     account,
     `This session's piece is ${live.file} (${live.runtime.label}). It already exists as a blank piece. Edit that file unless the user asks for something else.`,
     ...dialect,
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ function openEngine({ resume = "" } = {}) {
     environment: {
       SLAB_PROMPT_SESSION_ID: slabSession.sessionId,
       SLAB_TERMINAL_TTY: slabSession.tty,
-      SLAB_AGENT_TYPE: "aesthetic-code",
+      SLAB_AGENT_TYPE: "easel",
     },
   });
   opened.on("notification", handleNotification);
@@ -190,6 +191,11 @@ function openEngine({ resume = "" } = {}) {
 let engine = openEngine({ resume: resumeThreadId });
 let drawing = false;
 let closing = false;
+// The startup easel owns the screen until it is done or dismissed. Declared
+// here rather than beside the splash itself because redraw() reads it, and
+// redraw() can be called before that block is reached.
+let splashing = false;
+let splashTimer = null;
 let streamedMessageId = null;
 let pasteBuffer = null;
 
@@ -232,7 +238,7 @@ function startDance() {
 }
 
 function redraw() {
-  if (closing || drawing) return;
+  if (closing || drawing || splashing) return;
   drawing = true;
   try {
     const frame = renderFrame(state, process.stdout.columns, process.stdout.rows, process.env.NO_COLOR !== "1");
@@ -474,7 +480,7 @@ function handleRequest(request) {
     redraw();
     return;
   }
-  engine.reject(request.id, -32601, `Aesthetic Code does not support ${request.method} yet`);
+  engine.reject(request.id, -32601, `Easel does not support ${request.method} yet`);
 }
 
 function answerApproval(character) {
@@ -894,6 +900,13 @@ function insertText(value) {
 }
 
 function handleKey(input) {
+  // The easel is a greeting, not a gate. Any key puts it away.
+  if (splashing) {
+    splashing = false;
+    clearTimeout(splashTimer);
+    splashTimer = null;
+    redraw();
+  }
   if (answerApproval(input)) return;
 
   if (input === "\u0003") {
@@ -957,6 +970,39 @@ function handleKeys(buffer) {
 }
 
 process.stdout.write("\x1b[?1049h\x1b[?25l\x1b[?2004h");
+
+// 🎨 Stand the easel up. Each frame reads the live values rather than a
+// snapshot, so the address is written onto the canvas at whatever moment the
+// sign-in resolves — which is the honest thing to show, since that is exactly
+// when the piece's address starts answering.
+function splashTick() {
+  const elapsed = Date.now() - splashStartedAt;
+  const canvas = { piece: live.slug, address: live.scanUrl };
+  const columns = process.stdout.columns || 80;
+  const lines = easelFrame(elapsed, canvas);
+  const pad = Math.max(0, Math.floor((columns - lines[0].length) / 2));
+  const gap = Math.max(0, Math.floor(((process.stdout.rows || 24) - EASEL_HEIGHT) / 2));
+  const body = lines.map((line) => " ".repeat(pad) + line).join("\n");
+  process.stdout.write(`\x1b[H\x1b[2J${color.ground}${"\n".repeat(gap)}${body}`);
+
+  const next = easelNextFrame(elapsed, canvas);
+  if (next === null) {
+    splashing = false;
+    splashTimer = null;
+    return redraw();
+  }
+  splashTimer = setTimeout(splashTick, next);
+  splashTimer.unref?.();
+}
+
+// Skip it on a screen too small to hold it — a clipped easel is worse than
+// none — and whenever output is not a terminal at all.
+const splashStartedAt = Date.now();
+if (process.stdout.isTTY && (process.stdout.rows || 0) >= EASEL_HEIGHT + 4) {
+  splashing = true;
+  splashTick();
+}
+
 process.stdin.setRawMode(true);
 process.stdin.resume();
 process.stdin.on("data", handleKeys);
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/src/vendor/qr.mjs b/easel/src/vendor/qr.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/src/vendor/qr.mjs
rename to easel/src/vendor/qr.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/ac-session.test.mjs b/easel/test/ac-session.test.mjs
similarity index 98%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/ac-session.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/ac-session.test.mjs
index 4b27724725..7fdcf8eab0 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/test/ac-session.test.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/ac-session.test.mjs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const jsonResponse = (body, status = 200) =>
   new Response(JSON.stringify(body), { status, headers: { "content-type": "application/json" } });
 
 async function scratch(context) {
-  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "aesthetic-code-session-"));
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "easel-session-"));
   context.after(() => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true }));
   return join(root, ".ac-token");
 }
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/app-server.test.mjs b/easel/test/app-server.test.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/app-server.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/app-server.test.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/autopublish.test.mjs b/easel/test/autopublish.test.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/autopublish.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/autopublish.test.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/claude-server.test.mjs b/easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/claude-server.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/cli.sh b/easel/test/cli.sh
similarity index 63%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/cli.sh
rename to easel/test/cli.sh
index a9816a1408..d951013d94 100755
--- a/aesthetic-code/test/cli.sh
+++ b/easel/test/cli.sh
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-CLI="$PROJECT_DIR/bin/aesthetic"
-TEST_ROOT="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/aesthetic-code-test.XXXXXX")"
+CLI="$PROJECT_DIR/bin/easel"
+TEST_ROOT="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/easel-test.XXXXXX")"
 WORK_DIR="$TEST_ROOT/work space"
 TEST_BIN="$TEST_ROOT/bin"
 
 cleanup() {
     case "$TEST_ROOT" in
-        "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/aesthetic-code-test.*|/private/tmp/aesthetic-code-test.*)
+        "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/easel-test.*|/private/tmp/easel-test.*)
             rm -rf "$TEST_ROOT"
             ;;
     esac
@@ -31,17 +31,17 @@ assert_contains() {
 }
 
 output="$($CLI --version)"
-assert_contains "$output" 'Aesthetic Code 0.4.0'
+assert_contains "$output" 'Easel 0.4.0'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
-assert_contains "$output" 'interface=aesthetic-code'
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
+assert_contains "$output" 'interface=easel'
 assert_contains "$output" "directory=$WORK_DIR"
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$TEST_BIN/ac" "$WORK_DIR")"
-assert_contains "$output" 'interface=aesthetic-code'
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$TEST_BIN/ac" "$WORK_DIR")"
+assert_contains "$output" 'interface=easel'
 assert_contains "$output" "directory=$WORK_DIR"
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --resume 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 --prompt continue "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --resume 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 --prompt continue "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'resume=yes'
 assert_contains "$output" 'initial_prompt=yes'
 
@@ -64,46 +64,46 @@ output="$(HOME="$FAKE_HOME" "$CLI" whoami)"
 assert_contains "$output" '@tester'
 
 printf 'export function paint() {}\n' > "$WORK_DIR/smiley.mjs"
-output="$(HOME="$FAKE_HOME" AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" publish "$WORK_DIR/smiley.mjs")"
+output="$(HOME="$FAKE_HOME" EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" publish "$WORK_DIR/smiley.mjs")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'https://aesthetic.computer/@tester/smiley'
 
-if HOME="$FAKE_HOME" AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" publish >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if HOME="$FAKE_HOME" EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" publish >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'Expected publish without a file to fail.\n' >&2
     exit 1
 fi
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --runtime lisp "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --runtime lisp "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'runtime=lisp'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'runtime=mjs'
 
 # Publishing is outward-facing, so it is off unless this session asked for it —
 # by flag or by environment, with the flag able to say no to the environment.
 assert_contains "$output" 'autopublish=off'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --autopublish "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --autopublish "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'autopublish=on'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'autopublish=on'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 AESTHETIC_CODE_AUTOPUBLISH=1 "$CLI" --no-autopublish "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 EASEL_AUTOPUBLISH=1 "$CLI" --no-autopublish "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'autopublish=off'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR")"
 
 # Claude is the default engine bridge, on Fable; Codex stays selectable.
 assert_contains "$output" 'backend=claude'
 assert_contains "$output" 'model=claude-opus-5'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend codex "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend codex "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'backend=codex'
 
-output="$(AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend claude --model claude-opus-5 "$WORK_DIR")"
+output="$(EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend claude --model claude-opus-5 "$WORK_DIR")"
 assert_contains "$output" 'model=claude-opus-5'
 
-if AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend gemini "$WORK_DIR" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --backend gemini "$WORK_DIR" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'Expected an unknown backend to fail.\n' >&2
     exit 1
 fi
@@ -113,17 +113,17 @@ assert_contains "$output" 'engine bridge claude:'
 assert_contains "$output" 'engine bridge codex:'
 assert_contains "$output" 'default engine bridge: claude (claude-opus-5)'
 
-if AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --runtime rust "$WORK_DIR" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" --runtime rust "$WORK_DIR" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'Expected an unknown runtime to fail.\n' >&2
     exit 1
 fi
 
-if AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" claude >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" claude >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'Expected the removed provider shortcut to fail.\n' >&2
     exit 1
 fi
 
-if AESTHETIC_CODE_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR" extra >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if EASEL_DRY_RUN=1 "$CLI" "$WORK_DIR" extra >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'Expected extra launcher arguments to fail.\n' >&2
     exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/easel/test/easel.test.mjs b/easel/test/easel.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..62416198b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/easel/test/easel.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import test from "node:test";
+import { EASEL_HEIGHT, easelDuration, easelFrame, easelNextFrame } from "../src/easel.mjs";
+
+const canvas = { piece: "balozo", address: "prompt.ac/@jeffrey/balozo" };
+
+test("the easel is always the same size, whatever is on it", () => {
+  const widths = new Set();
+  for (const ms of [0, 100, 500, 1200, 5000]) {
+    const lines = easelFrame(ms, canvas);
+    assert.equal(lines.length, EASEL_HEIGHT, "a splash that changes height jumps");
+    widths.add(lines[0].length);
+  }
+  assert.equal(widths.size, 1, "the frame must not resize as the name is written");
+});
+
+test("the name is written on, then the address follows", () => {
+  const early = easelFrame(60, canvas).join("\n");
+  assert.match(early, /b▌/, "mid-write shows a cursor");
+  assert.ok(!early.includes("prompt.ac"), "the address waits its turn");
+
+  const done = easelFrame(easelDuration(canvas.piece, canvas.address), canvas).join("\n");
+  assert.ok(done.includes("balozo"), "the piece name lands");
+  assert.ok(done.includes(canvas.address), "and so does the address");
+  assert.ok(!done.includes("▌"), "the cursor goes away when writing stops");
+});
+
+test("it eventually stops asking to be repainted", () => {
+  assert.equal(easelNextFrame(easelDuration(canvas.piece, canvas.address), canvas), null);
+  assert.ok(easelNextFrame(0, canvas) > 0);
+});
+
+// A session that is not signed in has no address yet, and that is ordinary
+// rather than an error state — the canvas just stays empty there.
+test("an empty address leaves the canvas blank rather than breaking", () => {
+  const lines = easelFrame(5000, { piece: "balozo", address: "" });
+  assert.equal(lines.length, EASEL_HEIGHT);
+  assert.ok(lines.join("\n").includes("balozo"));
+  const lines2 = easelFrame(0, {});
+  assert.equal(lines2.length, EASEL_HEIGHT, "and neither does having nothing at all");
+});
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/fake-app-server.mjs b/easel/test/fake-app-server.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/fake-app-server.mjs
rename to easel/test/fake-app-server.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs b/easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
rename to easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/live.test.mjs b/easel/test/live.test.mjs
similarity index 99%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/live.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/live.test.mjs
index bd8b310857..ebf17a7744 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/test/live.test.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/live.test.mjs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { qrBlock } from "../src/qr.mjs";
 import { runtimeFor, runtimeForExtension, runtimeIds, runtimeMenu } from "../src/runtimes.mjs";
 
 async function workspace(context) {
-  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "aesthetic-code-live-"));
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "easel-live-"));
   context.after(() => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true }));
   return root;
 }
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/mascot.test.mjs b/easel/test/mascot.test.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/mascot.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/mascot.test.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/publish.test.mjs b/easel/test/publish.test.mjs
similarity index 98%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/publish.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/publish.test.mjs
index dfa630a0ab..a4af2b4205 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/test/publish.test.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/publish.test.mjs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { looksLikePiece, planPublish, publishPiece, slugFor } from "../src/publi
 const SOURCE = "export function paint({ wipe }) { wipe(70, 50, 100); }\n";
 
 async function piece(context, name = "smiley.mjs", source = SOURCE) {
-  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "aesthetic-code-publish-"));
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "easel-publish-"));
   context.after(() => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true }));
   const file = join(root, name);
   await writeFile(file, source);
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/render.test.mjs b/easel/test/render.test.mjs
similarity index 100%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/render.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/render.test.mjs
diff --git a/aesthetic-code/test/slab-session.test.mjs b/easel/test/slab-session.test.mjs
similarity index 94%
rename from aesthetic-code/test/slab-session.test.mjs
rename to easel/test/slab-session.test.mjs
index 0764365a95..ff301aea89 100644
--- a/aesthetic-code/test/slab-session.test.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/slab-session.test.mjs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const readJson = async (path) => JSON.parse(await readFile(path, "utf8"));
 const exists = async (path) => stat(path).then(() => true, () => false);
 
 test("publishes the full Slab prompt lifecycle", async (context) => {
-  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "aesthetic-code-slab-"));
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "easel-slab-"));
   context.after(() => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true }));
   const session = new SlabSession({
     cwd: "/project",
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ test("publishes the full Slab prompt lifecycle", async (context) => {
 
   session.start();
   let marker = await readJson(active);
-  assert.equal(marker.agent_type, "aesthetic-code");
+  assert.equal(marker.agent_type, "easel");
   assert.equal(marker.state, "blank");
 
   session.connected("00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001");
diff --git a/slab/bin/prox-mcp.mjs b/slab/bin/prox-mcp.mjs
index 849d35118d..bf23534f48 100755
--- a/slab/bin/prox-mcp.mjs
+++ b/slab/bin/prox-mcp.mjs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const SLAB_HOME = process.env.SLAB_HOME || join(homedir(), ".local", "share", "s
 const MARKER_DIRS = [join(SLAB_HOME, "state", "active-prompts"), join(SLAB_HOME, "state", "awaiting-prompts")];
 
 const shellQuote = (s) => `'${String(s).replaceAll("'", `'"'"'`)}'`;
-const isCodexBacked = (agent) => agent === "codex" || agent === "aesthetic-code";
+const isCodexBacked = (agent) => agent === "codex" || agent === "easel";
 
 async function findFile(root, suffix) {
   let entries;
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ async function toolDump({ handle, destination } = {}) {
   await writeFile(join(out, "manifest.json"), JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2) + "\n", { mode: 0o600 });
 
   let resume;
-  if (agent === "aesthetic-code") {
+  if (agent === "easel") {
     resume = `#!/bin/sh
 set -eu
 bundle=$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")" && pwd)
@@ -351,8 +351,8 @@ async function toolLaunch({ host, agent, cwd, prompt = "", by, loopboyContact =
   const wanted = String(host || "").trim().toLowerCase().replace(/\.local$/, "");
   if (!wanted) throw new Error("`host` is required (for example, poorslice).");
   const agentName = String(agent || "").trim().toLowerCase();
-  if (!new Set(["claude", "codex", "aesthetic-code"]).has(agentName)) {
-    throw new Error("`agent` must be `claude`, `codex`, or `aesthetic-code`.");
+  if (!new Set(["claude", "codex", "easel"]).has(agentName)) {
+    throw new Error("`agent` must be `claude`, `codex`, or `easel`.");
   }
   if (String(prompt).length > 4000) throw new Error("`prompt` exceeds 4000 characters.");
   const contactKey = String(loopboyContact || "").trim().toLowerCase();
@@ -542,14 +542,14 @@ const TOOLS = [
   {
     name: "prox_list",
     description:
-      "List the prompt rocks across the Slab fleet — every live Claude, Codex, or Aesthetic Code session and headless agent the menubar advertises, as host:name with its status, kind, owning interface, age, and subject. Reads the local fleet ledger cache (no SSH).",
+      "List the prompt rocks across the Slab fleet — every live Claude, Codex, or Easel session and headless agent the menubar advertises, as host:name with its status, kind, owning interface, age, and subject. Reads the local fleet ledger cache (no SSH).",
     inputSchema: {
       type: "object",
       properties: {
         host: { type: "string", description: "Only rocks on this machine (e.g. neo, blueberry, panda)." },
         status: { type: "string", description: "Filter by status: working | awaiting | complete | rendering | blank | interrupted." },
         kind: { type: "string", description: "Filter by kind: session | agent." },
-        agent: { type: "string", description: "Filter by owning interface: claude | codex | aesthetic-code." },
+        agent: { type: "string", description: "Filter by owning interface: claude | codex | easel." },
       },
     },
   },
@@ -606,12 +606,12 @@ const TOOLS = [
   {
     name: "prox_launch",
     description:
-      "Launch a new interactive Claude, Codex, or Aesthetic Code prompt in Terminal.app on a Slab fleet host. SIDE EFFECT: opens a live agent session and may consume account usage. The target accepts only fixed allowlisted launchers, limits cwd to that user's home folder, and binds the endpoint to its tailnet IP; no arbitrary command is accepted.",
+      "Launch a new interactive Claude, Codex, or Easel prompt in Terminal.app on a Slab fleet host. SIDE EFFECT: opens a live agent session and may consume account usage. The target accepts only fixed allowlisted launchers, limits cwd to that user's home folder, and binds the endpoint to its tailnet IP; no arbitrary command is accepted.",
     inputSchema: {
       type: "object",
       properties: {
         host: { type: "string", description: "Target Slab hostname, for example poorslice." },
-        agent: { type: "string", enum: ["claude", "codex", "aesthetic-code"], description: "Interface to launch." },
+        agent: { type: "string", enum: ["claude", "codex", "easel"], description: "Interface to launch." },
         cwd: { type: "string", description: "Optional absolute directory on the target. Defaults to its aesthetic-computer checkout and must stay under its home folder." },
         prompt: { type: "string", description: "Optional initial prompt, at most 4000 characters. Omit to open an idle TUI." },
         by: { type: "string", description: "Optional caller label recorded by the target." },
diff --git a/slab/bin/slab-aesthetic-profiles.swift b/slab/bin/slab-aesthetic-profiles.swift
index 2d3fb52dd2..fec043bd07 100644
--- a/slab/bin/slab-aesthetic-profiles.swift
+++ b/slab/bin/slab-aesthetic-profiles.swift
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // The menubar already switches a tab's `current settings` per session status,
 // picking a settings set by name (see AppDelegate.profileName). Claude sessions
 // get the plain `Slab-<status>-<dark|light>` family and Codex ones a cooler
-// `-codex` twin. Aesthetic Code sessions had no family of their own and were
+// `-codex` twin. Easel sessions had no family of their own and were
 // borrowing Codex's, so the one interface that IS Aesthetic Computer was the
 // one wearing somebody else's colours.
 //
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/AppDelegate.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/AppDelegate.swift
index e5f1a2887a..cc1833e879 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -2310,7 +2310,7 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
     ) -> (palette: Palette, glyph: String) {
         // Codex-backed completion is a stronger attention cue than Claude's
         // calm slate: coral/red, distinct from approval/elicitation amber.
-        if (agentType == "codex" || agentType == "aesthetic-code"), state == .complete {
+        if (agentType == "codex" || agentType == "easel"), state == .complete {
             if dark {
                 return blink
                     ? (Palette(bg: (23500, 3200, 4200), text: (65535, 48000, 46000),
@@ -2325,7 +2325,7 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
                            bold: (21000, 300, 800), cursor: (62000, 5000, 5000)), "✓ complete")
         }
         let base = baseStatusDecor(for: state, dark: dark, blink: blink)
-        guard agentType == "codex" || agentType == "aesthetic-code" else { return base }
+        guard agentType == "codex" || agentType == "easel" else { return base }
         return (palette: codexTint(base.palette, dark: dark), glyph: base.glyph)
     }
 
@@ -2491,14 +2491,14 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
         }
         // Codex-backed interfaces share a settings-set family so their
         // slightly-cooler palette is provisioned independently of Claude's.
-        // Aesthetic Code has its own: it borrowed Codex's until now, which put
+        // Easel has its own: it borrowed Codex's until now, which put
         // the one interface that IS Aesthetic Computer in somebody else's
         // colours. `-aesthetic` is the prompt's own scheme, the same values
         // the harness paints itself with — and it names the palette rather
         // than the tool, which is still deciding what it is called.
         let agentSuffix: String
         switch agentType {
-        case "aesthetic-code": agentSuffix = "-aesthetic"
+        case "easel": agentSuffix = "-aesthetic"
         case "codex":          agentSuffix = "-codex"
         default:               agentSuffix = ""
         }
@@ -3080,7 +3080,7 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
         _ = fontSize
         let safeCwd = cwd.replacingOccurrences(of: "'", with: "'\\''")
         let shellCmd: String
-        if agentType == "aesthetic-code" {
+        if agentType == "easel" {
             let safeSid = providerSessionId.replacingOccurrences(of: "'", with: "'\\''")
             shellCmd = providerSessionId.isEmpty
                 ? "cd '\(safeCwd)' && aesthetic"
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ClaudeSession.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ClaudeSession.swift
index 26cdd08390..5786c99906 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ClaudeSession.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ClaudeSession.swift
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import Foundation
 
 /// Generic alias — a tracked agent session is no longer Claude-specific
-/// (Codex and Aesthetic Code sessions flow through the same markers + reducer).
+/// (Codex and Easel sessions flow through the same markers + reducer).
 /// New code should
 /// prefer `AgentSession`; the old name stays valid so existing call sites
 /// (overlay, snapshot, menu) keep compiling.
@@ -79,17 +79,17 @@ struct ClaudeSession {
     var remoteHost: String = ""
 
     /// Which interface owns this session — "claude" (default), "codex", or
-    /// "aesthetic-code".
+    /// "easel".
     /// Read from the marker's `agent_type`; drives per-agent labels/tooltips
     /// in the menu. The state/color engine is agent-agnostic, so this is
     /// display-only.
     var agentType: String = "claude"
 
-    /// Aesthetic Code owns its UI while using Codex app-server as its current
+    /// Easel owns its UI while using Codex app-server as its current
     /// provider bridge. Provider-thread operations therefore share Codex's
     /// transcript and resume path without presenting the Codex UI.
     var isCodexBacked: Bool {
-        agentType == "codex" || agentType == "aesthetic-code"
+        agentType == "codex" || agentType == "easel"
     }
 
     /// Optional hardware/platform destination for this prompt (for example
@@ -100,13 +100,13 @@ struct ClaudeSession {
 
     /// Where a phone can reach the piece this session is holding, as a bare
     /// host+path (`aesthetic.computer/prompt~…`) with no scheme. Only
-    /// Aesthetic Code mints one, and only once its piece exists, so an empty
+    /// Easel mints one, and only once its piece exists, so an empty
     /// string is the ordinary case and means "no scannable destination yet".
     /// The prompt rock turns this into a QR surface; everything else ignores it.
     var scanURL: String = ""
 
     /// The piece this session is writing, with its extension — `balozo.mjs`.
-    /// Only Aesthetic Code sets it, and it names the rock: a session that is
+    /// Only Easel sets it, and it names the rock: a session that is
     /// holding a piece should be addressable by that piece's name rather than
     /// by a second unrelated word drawn from its session id.
     var piece: String = ""
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ struct ClaudeSession {
 
     /// Human label for the owning interface.
     var agentLabel: String {
-        if agentType == "aesthetic-code" { return "Aesthetic Code" }
+        if agentType == "easel" { return "Easel" }
         return agentType.isEmpty
             ? "Claude"
             : agentType.prefix(1).uppercased() + agentType.dropFirst()
@@ -215,9 +215,9 @@ enum ClaudeSessionReader {
                 // has overwritten it yet) — preserve so applyTerminalDecor
                 // paints the appearance-matched bg.
                 // (no-op: keep s.state == .blank)
-            } else if s.agentType == "aesthetic-code",
+            } else if s.agentType == "easel",
                       s.state == .complete || s.state == .awaiting || s.state == .interrupted {
-                // Aesthetic Code receives app-server lifecycle events
+                // Easel receives app-server lifecycle events
                 // directly, so its marker can state this transition without
                 // waiting for hook-derived side channels.
             } else if isInterrupted(sessionId: s.sessionId, markerPath: path) {
@@ -340,15 +340,15 @@ enum ClaudeSessionReader {
         }()
 
         // Hook-backed clients still derive most state from the side-channel
-        // markers. Aesthetic Code receives direct app-server lifecycle events
+        // markers. Easel receives direct app-server lifecycle events
         // and can publish exact idle/interrupted state itself.
         let agentType = (obj["agent_type"] as? String) ?? "claude"
         let parsedState: ClaudeSession.State = {
             switch obj["state"] as? String {
             case "blank": return .blank
-            case "complete" where agentType == "aesthetic-code": return .complete
-            case "awaiting" where agentType == "aesthetic-code": return .awaiting
-            case "interrupted" where agentType == "aesthetic-code": return .interrupted
+            case "complete" where agentType == "easel": return .complete
+            case "awaiting" where agentType == "easel": return .awaiting
+            case "interrupted" where agentType == "easel": return .interrupted
             default: return .working
             }
         }()
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/Ledger.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/Ledger.swift
index f1049af999..6b228398fa 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/Ledger.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/Ledger.swift
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ struct LedgerEntry: Codable, Equatable {
     /// unlike the route registry, this originates in the live marker.
     var loopboyContact: String?
     /// Bare host+path a phone can scan to reach the piece this prompt is
-    /// holding. Only Aesthetic Code mints one. Optional both because older
+    /// holding. Only Easel mints one. Optional both because older
     /// fleet ledgers predate it and because most prompts never have one.
     var scanURL: String?
 }
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ final class LedgerStore {
     /// home folder.
     private static func launchPrompt(_ body: [String: Any]) -> [String: Any] {
         let requestedAgent = ((body["agent"] as? String) ?? "").lowercased()
-        let agent = requestedAgent == "aesthetic" ? "aesthetic-code" : requestedAgent
-        guard agent == "claude" || agent == "codex" || agent == "aesthetic-code" else {
-            return ["ok": false, "error": "agent must be claude, codex, or aesthetic-code"]
+        let agent = requestedAgent == "aesthetic" ? "easel" : requestedAgent
+        guard agent == "claude" || agent == "codex" || agent == "easel" else {
+            return ["ok": false, "error": "agent must be claude, codex, or easel"]
         }
 
         let prompt = (body["prompt"] as? String) ?? ""
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ final class LedgerStore {
         let binary: String
         if agent == "codex" {
             binary = "\(Paths.slabBin)/codex-slab"
-        } else if agent == "aesthetic-code" {
-            binary = "\(Paths.home)/.local/bin/aesthetic"
+        } else if agent == "easel" {
+            binary = "\(Paths.home)/.local/bin/easel"
         } else {
             binary = "\(Paths.home)/.local/bin/claude"
         }
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ final class LedgerStore {
             command = "cd \(shellQuote(cwd)) && exec \(shellQuote(binary))"
         }
         if !prompt.isEmpty {
-            command += agent == "aesthetic-code"
+            command += agent == "easel"
                 ? " --prompt \(shellQuote(prompt))"
                 : " \(shellQuote(prompt))"
         }
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptScanCode.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptScanCode.swift
index ca46193768..c84a16c9d5 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptScanCode.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptScanCode.swift
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // PROMPT SCAN CODES.
 //
-// An Aesthetic Code session is holding a live piece, and the way you reach that
+// An Easel session is holding a live piece, and the way you reach that
 // piece from a phone is a QR. Printed into the terminal it costs seventeen rows
 // of half-blocks and shoves the actual conversation off the top of the pane;
 // carried by the session's prompt rock it costs nothing but the stone's own
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptSigilOverlay.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptSigilOverlay.swift
index 630108e999..1d0ee76af1 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptSigilOverlay.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/PromptSigilOverlay.swift
@@ -2634,12 +2634,12 @@ final class PromptSigilOverlayController {
     /// Reconcile the badge set with the live sessions. Off when `enabled` is
     /// false. Only sessions with a real local tty get a badge.
     /// The code this session's rock should be showing, or nil for the stone.
-    /// Every gate lives here: only Aesthetic Code mints scan URLs, the URL has
+    /// Every gate lives here: only Easel mints scan URLs, the URL has
     /// to exist, and it has to survive the generator — a payload too long for a
     /// QR, or one that would only fit at a module size no camera can resolve,
     /// comes back nil and the session keeps an ordinary rock.
     private func scanCode(for s: ClaudeSession) -> CGImage? {
-        guard s.agentType == "aesthetic-code" else { return nil }
+        guard s.agentType == "easel" else { return nil }
         let url = s.scanURL
         guard !url.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty,
               !unscannableURLs.contains(url) else { return nil }
@@ -2691,7 +2691,7 @@ final class PromptSigilOverlayController {
         for s in live {
             let bare = (s.tty as NSString).lastPathComponent
             liveParticleTtys.insert(bare)
-            // An Aesthetic Code session is holding a piece, and the client for
+            // An Easel session is holding a piece, and the client for
             // that piece is a phone. When the marker says where to send it, the
             // rock trades its stone for a code the camera can take. Nil — an
             // older session, a piece that hasn't minted yet, another agent
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ProxMemoirs.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ProxMemoirs.swift
index 0679aac96a..5f4c2b581e 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ProxMemoirs.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/ProxMemoirs.swift
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ final class ProxMemoirs {
             else { continue }
             var role = ""
             var content: Any?
-            if agentType == "codex" || agentType == "aesthetic-code" {
+            if agentType == "codex" || agentType == "easel" {
                 guard (obj["type"] as? String) == "response_item",
                       let payload = obj["payload"] as? [String: Any],
                       (payload["type"] as? String) == "message" else { continue }
diff --git a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/SigilRenderer.swift b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/SigilRenderer.swift
index 80ef4ad44b..fa85f4d0d3 100644
--- a/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/SigilRenderer.swift
+++ b/slab/menubar-swift/Sources/SlabMenubar/SigilRenderer.swift
@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ enum SigilRenderer {
                 return routeName
             }
         }
-        // An Aesthetic Code session is holding one named piece, and that name is
+        // An Easel session is holding one named piece, and that name is
         // already the session's public identity: it is the slug in the address on
         // the rock and the channel the piece is pushed on. Drawing a second,
         // unrelated word from the session id meant the rock and the piece
         // disagreed about what the session was called — you would open `balozo`
         // and be handed `muzad`. The piece wins, and follows a rename.
-        if session.agentType == "aesthetic-code" {
+        if session.agentType == "easel" {
             let slug = (session.piece as NSString).deletingPathExtension
             let clean = slug.filter { $0.isLetter || $0.isNumber || $0 == "-" || $0 == "_" }
             if !clean.isEmpty { return String(clean.prefix(16)) }