From 632a7c445350d15ba43c16c6a83d28981020df3b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:49:12 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 01/10] refactor(terminal): add pty read_error handler

---
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)

diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 39aa3719..0e0a3cd0 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ const pty = struct {
     parser: Parser,
     receiver: Receiver,
     parent: tp.pid,
+    err_code: i64 = 0,
 
     pub fn spawn(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, vt: *Terminal) !tp.pid {
         const self = try allocator.create(@This());
@@ -448,6 +449,12 @@ const pty = struct {
                     return tp.exit_normal();
                 },
             };
+        } else if (try m.match(.{ "fd", "pty", "read_error", tp.extract(&self.err_code), tp.more })) {
+            const code = self.vt.cmd.wait();
+            std.log.debug("terminal: read_error from fd (err={d}), process exited with code={d}", .{ self.err_code, code });
+            self.vt.event_queue.push(.{ .exited = code });
+            self.parent.send(.{ "terminal_view", "output" }) catch {};
+            return tp.exit_normal();
         } else if (try m.match(.{"quit"})) {
             std.log.debug("terminal: pty exiting: received quit", .{});
             return tp.exit_normal();

From 94f6b342fab7bdf9e9ed1d84c93a7aba54863d61 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:57:43 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 02/10] fix(terminal): setup SIGCHLD handler to catch exits
 with no writes

---
 build.zig.zon             |  4 ++--
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 43 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 44 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/build.zig.zon b/build.zig.zon
index 590a0639..492fd798 100644
--- a/build.zig.zon
+++ b/build.zig.zon
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
             .hash = "fuzzig-0.1.1-Ji0xivxIAQBD0g8O_NV_0foqoPf3elsg9Sc3pNfdVH4D",
         },
         .vaxis = .{
-            .url = "git+https://github.com/neurocyte/libvaxis?ref=main#e83e3f871786fab577bb26e2e4800dd7e9bf4390",
-            .hash = "vaxis-0.5.1-BWNV_Ke0CQCnpGN5qbzPOFD1V_oBgcIWd1O0PrBYmTMa",
+            .url = "git+https://github.com/neurocyte/libvaxis?ref=main#5727534c75c7490e3eab1ec65b6998fecf228165",
+            .hash = "vaxis-0.5.1-BWNV_Aq3CQCFVUB6Ie_kp0ftM2brpixkT_mOERADRiVD",
         },
         .zeit = .{
             .url = "git+https://github.com/rockorager/zeit?ref=zig-0.15#ed2ca60db118414bda2b12df2039e33bad3b0b88",
diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 0e0a3cd0..e619e536 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -390,6 +390,7 @@ const pty = struct {
     receiver: Receiver,
     parent: tp.pid,
     err_code: i64 = 0,
+    sigchld: ?tp.signal = null,
 
     pub fn spawn(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, vt: *Terminal) !tp.pid {
         const self = try allocator.create(@This());
@@ -408,6 +409,7 @@ const pty = struct {
 
     fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
         std.log.debug("terminal: pty actor deinit (pid={?})", .{self.vt.cmd.pid});
+        if (self.sigchld) |s| s.deinit();
         self.fd.deinit();
         self.parser.buf.deinit();
         self.parent.deinit();
@@ -424,6 +426,10 @@ const pty = struct {
             std.log.debug("terminal: pty initial wait_read failed: {}", .{e});
             return tp.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
         };
+        self.sigchld = tp.signal.init(std.posix.SIG.CHLD, tp.message.fmt(.{"sigchld"})) catch |e| {
+            std.log.debug("terminal: SIGCHLD signal init failed: {}", .{e});
+            return tp.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
+        };
         tp.receive(&self.receiver);
     }
 
@@ -450,11 +456,24 @@ const pty = struct {
                 },
             };
         } else if (try m.match(.{ "fd", "pty", "read_error", tp.extract(&self.err_code), tp.more })) {
+            // thespian fires read_error with EPOLLHUP when the child exits cleanly.
+            // Treat it the same as EIO: reap the child and signal exit.
             const code = self.vt.cmd.wait();
             std.log.debug("terminal: read_error from fd (err={d}), process exited with code={d}", .{ self.err_code, code });
             self.vt.event_queue.push(.{ .exited = code });
             self.parent.send(.{ "terminal_view", "output" }) catch {};
             return tp.exit_normal();
+        } else if (try m.match(.{"sigchld"})) {
+            // SIGCHLD fires when any child exits. Check if it's our child.
+            if (self.vt.cmd.try_wait()) |code| {
+                std.log.debug("terminal: child exited (SIGCHLD) with code={d}", .{code});
+                self.vt.event_queue.push(.{ .exited = code });
+                self.parent.send(.{ "terminal_view", "output" }) catch {};
+                return tp.exit_normal();
+            }
+            // Not our child (or already reaped) - re-arm the signal and continue.
+            if (self.sigchld) |s| s.deinit();
+            self.sigchld = tp.signal.init(std.posix.SIG.CHLD, tp.message.fmt(.{"sigchld"})) catch null;
         } else if (try m.match(.{"quit"})) {
             std.log.debug("terminal: pty exiting: received quit", .{});
             return tp.exit_normal();
@@ -469,7 +488,19 @@ const pty = struct {
 
         while (true) {
             const n = std.posix.read(self.vt.ptyFd(), &buf) catch |e| switch (e) {
-                error.WouldBlock => break,
+                error.WouldBlock => {
+                    // No more data right now. Check if the child already exited -
+                    // on Linux a clean exit may not make the pty fd readable again
+                    // (no EPOLLIN), it just starts returning EIO on the next read.
+                    // Polling here catches that case before we arm wait_read again.
+                    if (self.vt.cmd.try_wait()) |code| {
+                        std.log.debug("terminal: child exited (detected via try_wait) with code={d}", .{code});
+                        self.vt.event_queue.push(.{ .exited = code });
+                        self.parent.send(.{ "terminal_view", "output" }) catch {};
+                        return error.InputOutput;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                },
                 error.InputOutput => {
                     const code = self.vt.cmd.wait();
                     std.log.debug("terminal: read EIO, process exited with code={d}", .{code});
@@ -522,6 +553,16 @@ const pty = struct {
             }
         }
 
+        // Check for child exit once more before sleeping in wait_read.
+        // A clean exit with no final output will never make the pty fd readable,
+        // so we must detect it here rather than waiting forever.
+        if (self.vt.cmd.try_wait()) |code| {
+            std.log.debug("terminal: child exited (pre-wait_read check) with code={d}", .{code});
+            self.vt.event_queue.push(.{ .exited = code });
+            self.parent.send(.{ "terminal_view", "output" }) catch {};
+            return error.InputOutput;
+        }
+
         self.fd.wait_read() catch |e| switch (e) {
             error.ThespianFileDescriptorWaitReadFailed => {
                 std.log.debug("terminal: wait_read failed: {} (pid={?})", .{ e, self.vt.cmd.pid });

From a35edeaa9b27ec776cac452ecde1360a439bf6b0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 03/10] refactor(terminal): add re-run command message

---
 build.zig.zon             |  4 ++--
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 35 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/build.zig.zon b/build.zig.zon
index 492fd798..84e13bba 100644
--- a/build.zig.zon
+++ b/build.zig.zon
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
             .hash = "fuzzig-0.1.1-Ji0xivxIAQBD0g8O_NV_0foqoPf3elsg9Sc3pNfdVH4D",
         },
         .vaxis = .{
-            .url = "git+https://github.com/neurocyte/libvaxis?ref=main#5727534c75c7490e3eab1ec65b6998fecf228165",
-            .hash = "vaxis-0.5.1-BWNV_Aq3CQCFVUB6Ie_kp0ftM2brpixkT_mOERADRiVD",
+            .url = "git+https://github.com/neurocyte/libvaxis?ref=main#9c8e0a7d61c75ea6aee3b69761acfb36899709e6",
+            .hash = "vaxis-0.5.1-BWNV_LC4CQDtTTjkRwC90yjbqAtv2AnDiRpU0e8c_BtF",
         },
         .zeit = .{
             .url = "git+https://github.com/rockorager/zeit?ref=zig-0.15#ed2ca60db118414bda2b12df2039e33bad3b0b88",
diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index e619e536..44ebe0da 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -154,6 +154,13 @@ pub fn receive(self: *Self, from: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) error{Exit}!bool {
         .mods = @bitCast(modifiers),
         .text = if (text.len > 0) text else null,
     };
+    if (self.vt.process_exited and (keypress == input.key.enter or keypress == '\r')) {
+        self.vt.process_exited = false;
+        self.restart() catch |e|
+            std.log.err("terminal_view: restart failed: {}", .{e});
+        tui.need_render(@src());
+        return true;
+    }
     self.vt.vt.scrollToBottom();
     self.vt.vt.update(.{ .key_press = key }) catch |e|
         std.log.err("terminal_view: input failed: {}", .{e});
@@ -194,6 +201,7 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
     while (self.vt.vt.tryEvent()) |event| {
         switch (event) {
             .exited => |code| {
+                self.vt.process_exited = true;
                 self.show_exit_message(code);
                 tui.need_render(@src());
             },
@@ -266,11 +274,37 @@ fn show_exit_message(self: *Self, code: u8) void {
     if (code != 0)
         w.print(" with code {d}", .{code}) catch {};
     w.writeAll("]\x1b[0m\r\n") catch {};
+    // Build display command string from argv for the re-run prompt
+    const argv = self.vt.vt.cmd.argv;
+    if (argv.len > 0) {
+        w.writeAll("\x1b[0m\x1b[2mPress enter to re-run '") catch {};
+        for (argv, 0..) |arg, i| {
+            if (i > 0) w.writeByte(' ') catch {};
+            // Quote args that contain spaces
+            const needs_quote = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, arg, ' ') != null;
+            if (needs_quote) w.writeByte('"') catch {};
+            w.writeAll(arg) catch {};
+            if (needs_quote) w.writeByte('"') catch {};
+        }
+        w.writeAll("'\x1b[0m\r\n") catch {};
+    }
     var parser: pty.Parser = .{ .buf = .init(self.allocator) };
     defer parser.buf.deinit();
     _ = self.vt.vt.processOutput(&parser, msg.written()) catch {};
 }
 
+fn restart(self: *Self) !void {
+    // Kill the old pty actor if still alive
+    if (self.vt.pty_pid) |pid| {
+        pid.send(.{"quit"}) catch {};
+        pid.deinit();
+        self.vt.pty_pid = null;
+    }
+    // Re-spawn the child process and a fresh pty actor
+    try self.vt.vt.spawn();
+    self.vt.pty_pid = try pty.spawn(self.allocator, &self.vt.vt);
+}
+
 pub fn handle_resize(self: *Self, pos: Widget.Box) void {
     self.plane.move_yx(@intCast(pos.y), @intCast(pos.x)) catch return;
     self.plane.resize_simple(@intCast(pos.h), @intCast(pos.w)) catch return;
@@ -319,6 +353,7 @@ const Vt = struct {
     app_fg: ?[3]u8 = null,
     app_bg: ?[3]u8 = null,
     app_cursor: ?[3]u8 = null,
+    process_exited: bool = false,
 
     fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, argv: []const []const u8, env: std.process.EnvMap, rows: u16, cols: u16) !void {
         const home = env.get("HOME") orelse "/tmp";

From fc78e8cf028398f6467c8bb13c8d3d2e374e9aaf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:07:06 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 04/10] refactor: add argv module with helper functions

---
 build.zig                 | 10 +++++++
 src/argv.zig              | 33 +++++++++++++++++++++
 src/list_languages.zig    | 62 +++++++++++++++------------------------
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 20 +++++--------
 4 files changed, 73 insertions(+), 52 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/argv.zig

diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 8d3c126e..3168c030 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -392,6 +392,13 @@ pub fn build_exe(
         },
     });
 
+    const argv_mod = b.createModule(.{
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/argv.zig"),
+        .imports = &.{
+            .{ .name = "cbor", .module = cbor_mod },
+        },
+    });
+
     const lsp_config_mod = b.createModule(.{
         .root_source_file = b.path("src/lsp_config.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
@@ -660,6 +667,7 @@ pub fn build_exe(
             .{ .name = "project_manager", .module = project_manager_mod },
             .{ .name = "syntax", .module = syntax_mod },
             .{ .name = "text_manip", .module = text_manip_mod },
+            .{ .name = "argv", .module = argv_mod },
             .{ .name = "Buffer", .module = Buffer_mod },
             .{ .name = "keybind", .module = keybind_mod },
             .{ .name = "shell", .module = shell_mod },
@@ -709,6 +717,7 @@ pub fn build_exe(
     exe.root_module.addImport("cbor", cbor_mod);
     exe.root_module.addImport("config", config_mod);
     exe.root_module.addImport("text_manip", text_manip_mod);
+    exe.root_module.addImport("argv", argv_mod);
     exe.root_module.addImport("Buffer", Buffer_mod);
     exe.root_module.addImport("tui", tui_mod);
     exe.root_module.addImport("thespian", thespian_mod);
@@ -759,6 +768,7 @@ pub fn build_exe(
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("cbor", cbor_mod);
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("config", config_mod);
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("text_manip", text_manip_mod);
+    check_exe.root_module.addImport("argv", argv_mod);
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("Buffer", Buffer_mod);
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("tui", tui_mod);
     check_exe.root_module.addImport("thespian", thespian_mod);
diff --git a/src/argv.zig b/src/argv.zig
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e6d5ec9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/argv.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+/// Write a `[]const []const u8` argv array as a space-separated command string.
+/// Args that contain spaces are wrapped in double-quotes.
+/// Writes nothing if argv is null or empty.
+pub fn write(writer: *std.Io.Writer, argv: ?[]const []const u8) error{WriteFailed}!usize {
+    const args = argv orelse return 0;
+    var count: usize = 0;
+    for (args, 0..) |arg, i| {
+        if (i > 0) {
+            try writer.writeByte(' ');
+            count += 1;
+        }
+        const needs_quote = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, arg, ' ') != null;
+        if (needs_quote) {
+            try writer.writeByte('"');
+            count += 1;
+        }
+        try writer.writeAll(arg);
+        count += arg.len;
+        if (needs_quote) {
+            try writer.writeByte('"');
+            count += 1;
+        }
+    }
+    return count;
+}
+
+/// Return the display length of an argv array rendered by write_argv.
+pub fn len(argv: ?[]const []const u8) usize {
+    var discard: std.Io.Writer.Discarding = .init(&.{});
+    return write(&discard.writer, argv) catch return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/list_languages.zig b/src/list_languages.zig
index 8296e87f..669c7863 100644
--- a/src/list_languages.zig
+++ b/src/list_languages.zig
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const file_type_config = @import("file_type_config");
 const text_manip = @import("text_manip");
 const write_string = text_manip.write_string;
 const write_padding = text_manip.write_padding;
+const argv = @import("argv");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const RGB = @import("color").RGB;
 
@@ -22,9 +23,9 @@ pub fn list(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, writer: *std.io.Writer, tty_config: st
     for (file_type_config.get_all_names()) |file_type_name| {
         const file_type = try file_type_config.get(file_type_name) orelse unreachable;
         max_language_len = @max(max_language_len, file_type.name.len);
-        max_langserver_len = @max(max_langserver_len, args_string_length(file_type.language_server));
-        max_formatter_len = @max(max_formatter_len, args_string_length(file_type.formatter));
-        max_extensions_len = @max(max_extensions_len, args_string_length(file_type.extensions));
+        max_langserver_len = @max(max_langserver_len, argv.len(file_type.language_server));
+        max_formatter_len = @max(max_formatter_len, argv.len(file_type.formatter));
+        max_extensions_len = @max(max_extensions_len, argv.len(file_type.extensions));
     }
 
     try tty_config.setColor(writer, .yellow);
@@ -43,59 +44,42 @@ pub fn list(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, writer: *std.io.Writer, tty_config: st
         try tty_config.setColor(writer, .reset);
         try writer.writeAll("  ");
         try write_string(writer, file_type.name, max_language_len + 1);
-        try write_segmented(writer, file_type.extensions, ",", max_extensions_len + 1, tty_config);
+        {
+            const exts = file_type.extensions orelse &.{};
+            var ext_len: usize = 0;
+            for (exts, 0..) |ext, i| {
+                if (i > 0) {
+                    try writer.writeByte(',');
+                    ext_len += 1;
+                }
+                try writer.writeAll(ext);
+                ext_len += ext.len;
+            }
+            try tty_config.setColor(writer, .reset);
+            try write_padding(writer, ext_len, max_extensions_len + 1);
+        }
 
         if (file_type.language_server) |language_server|
             try write_checkmark(writer, bin_path.can_execute(allocator, language_server[0]), tty_config);
 
-        try write_segmented(writer, file_type.language_server, " ", max_langserver_len + 1, tty_config);
+        const len = try argv.write(writer, file_type.language_server);
+        try tty_config.setColor(writer, .reset);
+        try write_padding(writer, len, max_langserver_len + 1);
 
         if (file_type.formatter) |formatter|
             try write_checkmark(writer, bin_path.can_execute(allocator, formatter[0]), tty_config);
 
-        try write_segmented(writer, file_type.formatter, " ", null, tty_config);
+        _ = try argv.write(writer, file_type.formatter);
+        try tty_config.setColor(writer, .reset);
         try writer.writeAll("\n");
     }
 }
 
-fn args_string_length(args_: ?[]const []const u8) usize {
-    const args = args_ orelse return 0;
-    var len: usize = 0;
-    var first: bool = true;
-    for (args) |arg| {
-        if (first) first = false else len += 1;
-        len += arg.len;
-    }
-    return len;
-}
-
 fn write_checkmark(writer: anytype, success: bool, tty_config: std.io.tty.Config) !void {
     try tty_config.setColor(writer, if (success) .green else .red);
     if (success) try writer.writeAll(success_mark) else try writer.writeAll(fail_mark);
 }
 
-fn write_segmented(
-    writer: anytype,
-    args_: ?[]const []const u8,
-    sep: []const u8,
-    pad: ?usize,
-    tty_config: std.io.tty.Config,
-) !void {
-    const args = args_ orelse return;
-    var len: usize = 0;
-    var first: bool = true;
-    for (args) |arg| {
-        if (first) first = false else {
-            len += 1;
-            try writer.writeAll(sep);
-        }
-        len += arg.len;
-        try writer.writeAll(arg);
-    }
-    try tty_config.setColor(writer, .reset);
-    if (pad) |pad_| try write_padding(writer, len, pad_);
-}
-
 fn setColorRgb(writer: anytype, color: u24) !void {
     const fg_rgb_legacy = "\x1b[38;2;{d};{d};{d}m";
     const rgb = RGB.from_u24(color);
diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 44ebe0da..0eb6c1d6 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const cbor = @import("cbor");
 const command = @import("command");
 const vaxis = @import("renderer").vaxis;
 const shell = @import("shell");
+const argv = @import("argv");
 
 const Plane = @import("renderer").Plane;
 const Widget = @import("Widget.zig");
@@ -274,18 +275,11 @@ fn show_exit_message(self: *Self, code: u8) void {
     if (code != 0)
         w.print(" with code {d}", .{code}) catch {};
     w.writeAll("]\x1b[0m\r\n") catch {};
-    // Build display command string from argv for the re-run prompt
-    const argv = self.vt.vt.cmd.argv;
-    if (argv.len > 0) {
+    // Re-run prompt
+    const cmd_argv = self.vt.vt.cmd.argv;
+    if (cmd_argv.len > 0) {
         w.writeAll("\x1b[0m\x1b[2mPress enter to re-run '") catch {};
-        for (argv, 0..) |arg, i| {
-            if (i > 0) w.writeByte(' ') catch {};
-            // Quote args that contain spaces
-            const needs_quote = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, arg, ' ') != null;
-            if (needs_quote) w.writeByte('"') catch {};
-            w.writeAll(arg) catch {};
-            if (needs_quote) w.writeByte('"') catch {};
-        }
+        _ = argv.write(w, cmd_argv) catch {};
         w.writeAll("'\x1b[0m\r\n") catch {};
     }
     var parser: pty.Parser = .{ .buf = .init(self.allocator) };
@@ -355,7 +349,7 @@ const Vt = struct {
     app_cursor: ?[3]u8 = null,
     process_exited: bool = false,
 
-    fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, argv: []const []const u8, env: std.process.EnvMap, rows: u16, cols: u16) !void {
+    fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, cmd_argv: []const []const u8, env: std.process.EnvMap, rows: u16, cols: u16) !void {
         const home = env.get("HOME") orelse "/tmp";
 
         global_vt = .{
@@ -367,7 +361,7 @@ const Vt = struct {
         const self = &global_vt.?;
         self.vt = try Terminal.init(
             allocator,
-            argv,
+            cmd_argv,
             &env,
             .{
                 .winsize = .{ .rows = rows, .cols = cols, .x_pixel = 0, .y_pixel = 0 },

From 57aae0d45c709fdf48c8057817a542049b546ed8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:05:40 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 05/10] feat(terminal): add close_terminal command

---
 src/tui/mainview.zig | 8 +++++++-
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/tui/mainview.zig b/src/tui/mainview.zig
index 76ad8461..fe4507a5 100644
--- a/src/tui/mainview.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mainview.zig
@@ -1014,7 +1014,13 @@ const cmds = struct {
                 vt.focus();
         }
     }
-    pub const focus_terminal_meta: Meta = .{ .description = "Terminal" };
+    pub const focus_terminal_meta: Meta = .{ .description = "Open terminal" };
+
+    pub fn close_terminal(self: *Self, _: Ctx) Result {
+        if (self.get_panel_view(terminal_view)) |_|
+            try self.toggle_panel_view(terminal_view, .disable);
+    }
+    pub const close_terminal_meta: Meta = .{ .description = "Close terminal" };
 
     pub fn close_find_in_files_results(self: *Self, _: Ctx) Result {
         if (self.file_list_type == .find_in_files)

From 0a37c2b05bc5a0f42bb8b4fc4c30993eced24cd2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:06:23 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 06/10] refactor(terminal): close terminal on escape keypress
 if exited

---
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 18 ++++++++++++------
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 0eb6c1d6..925ae8ad 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -155,12 +155,18 @@ pub fn receive(self: *Self, from: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) error{Exit}!bool {
         .mods = @bitCast(modifiers),
         .text = if (text.len > 0) text else null,
     };
-    if (self.vt.process_exited and (keypress == input.key.enter or keypress == '\r')) {
-        self.vt.process_exited = false;
-        self.restart() catch |e|
-            std.log.err("terminal_view: restart failed: {}", .{e});
-        tui.need_render(@src());
-        return true;
+    if (self.vt.process_exited) {
+        if (keypress == input.key.enter) {
+            self.vt.process_exited = false;
+            self.restart() catch |e|
+                std.log.err("terminal_view: restart failed: {}", .{e});
+            tui.need_render(@src());
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (keypress == input.key.escape) {
+            tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "close_terminal", .{} }) catch {};
+            return true;
+        }
     }
     self.vt.vt.scrollToBottom();
     self.vt.vt.update(.{ .key_press = key }) catch |e|

From 29c34249136cd2fa3da826fa50ed9ab68baaf3cd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:07:01 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 07/10] fix(terminal): reset terminal if closed when exited

---
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 925ae8ad..7858c8d5 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -190,6 +190,10 @@ pub fn unfocus(self: *Self) void {
 }
 
 pub fn deinit(self: *Self, allocator: Allocator) void {
+    if (global_vt) |*vt| if (vt.process_exited) {
+        vt.deinit(allocator);
+        global_vt = null;
+    };
     if (self.focused) tui.release_keyboard_focus(Widget.to(self));
     self.commands.unregister();
     self.plane.deinit();

From 21b7995393ee93733ac18acb6dd826f090c98a75 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:29:18 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 08/10] feat(terminal): add terminal_on_exit config option

---
 src/config.zig            |  7 +++++++
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 24 +++++++++++++++++++++---
 2 files changed, 28 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/config.zig b/src/config.zig
index c4572b00..5cf6325f 100644
--- a/src/config.zig
+++ b/src/config.zig
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ gutter_width_maximum: usize = 8,
 enable_terminal_cursor: bool = true,
 enable_terminal_color_scheme: bool = false,
 terminal_scrollback_size: u16 = 500,
+terminal_on_exit: TerminalOnExit = .hold_on_error,
 enable_sgr_pixel_mode_support: bool = true,
 enable_modal_dim: bool = true,
 highlight_current_line: bool = true,
@@ -248,3 +249,9 @@ pub const AgeFormat = enum {
     short,
     long,
 };
+
+pub const TerminalOnExit = enum {
+    hold_on_error,
+    close,
+    hold,
+};
diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 7858c8d5..806ca261 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const command = @import("command");
 const vaxis = @import("renderer").vaxis;
 const shell = @import("shell");
 const argv = @import("argv");
+const config = @import("config");
 
 const Plane = @import("renderer").Plane;
 const Widget = @import("Widget.zig");
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ const Self = @This();
 const widget_type: Widget.Type = .panel;
 
 const Terminal = vaxis.widgets.Terminal;
+const TerminalOnExit = config.TerminalOnExit;
 
 allocator: Allocator,
 plane: Plane,
@@ -52,8 +54,11 @@ pub fn create_with_args(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, ctx: command.Contex
     errdefer env.deinit();
 
     var cmd_arg: []const u8 = "";
+    var on_exit: TerminalOnExit = tui.config().terminal_on_exit;
     const argv_msg: ?tp.message = if (ctx.args.match(.{tp.extract(&cmd_arg)}) catch false and cmd_arg.len > 0)
         try shell.parse_arg0_to_argv(allocator, &cmd_arg)
+    else if (ctx.args.match(.{ tp.extract(&cmd_arg), tp.extract(&on_exit) }) catch false and cmd_arg.len > 0)
+        try shell.parse_arg0_to_argv(allocator, &cmd_arg)
     else
         null;
     defer if (argv_msg) |msg| allocator.free(msg.buf);
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ pub fn create_with_args(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, ctx: command.Contex
     const cols: u16 = @intCast(@max(80, plane.dim_x()));
     const rows: u16 = @intCast(@max(24, plane.dim_y()));
 
-    if (global_vt == null) try Vt.init(allocator, argv_list.items, env, rows, cols);
+    if (global_vt == null) try Vt.init(allocator, argv_list.items, env, rows, cols, on_exit);
 
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
     errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
@@ -213,7 +218,7 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
         switch (event) {
             .exited => |code| {
                 self.vt.process_exited = true;
-                self.show_exit_message(code);
+                self.handle_child_exit(code);
                 tui.need_render(@src());
             },
             .redraw, .bell => {},
@@ -275,6 +280,17 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
     return false;
 }
 
+fn handle_child_exit(self: *Self, code: u8) void {
+    switch (self.vt.on_exit) {
+        .hold => self.show_exit_message(code),
+        .hold_on_error => if (code == 0)
+            tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "close_terminal", .{} }) catch {}
+        else
+            self.show_exit_message(code),
+        .close => tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "close_terminal", .{} }) catch {},
+    }
+}
+
 fn show_exit_message(self: *Self, code: u8) void {
     var msg: std.Io.Writer.Allocating = .init(self.allocator);
     defer msg.deinit();
@@ -358,8 +374,9 @@ const Vt = struct {
     app_bg: ?[3]u8 = null,
     app_cursor: ?[3]u8 = null,
     process_exited: bool = false,
+    on_exit: TerminalOnExit,
 
-    fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, cmd_argv: []const []const u8, env: std.process.EnvMap, rows: u16, cols: u16) !void {
+    fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, cmd_argv: []const []const u8, env: std.process.EnvMap, rows: u16, cols: u16, on_exit: TerminalOnExit) !void {
         const home = env.get("HOME") orelse "/tmp";
 
         global_vt = .{
@@ -367,6 +384,7 @@ const Vt = struct {
             .env = env,
             .write_buf = undefined, // managed via self.vt's pty_writer pointer
             .pty_pid = null,
+            .on_exit = on_exit,
         };
         const self = &global_vt.?;
         self.vt = try Terminal.init(

From 5f9b7b7c13b28e32b90d123120146d37cd0b0035 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:11:00 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 09/10] fix(terminal): run posix shell if no command specified
 and no SHELL found

---
 src/tui/terminal_view.zig | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
index 806ca261..86f765fc 100644
--- a/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/terminal_view.zig
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub fn create_with_args(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, ctx: command.Contex
                 try argv_list.append(allocator, arg);
         }
     } else {
-        try argv_list.append(allocator, env.get("SHELL") orelse "bash");
+        try argv_list.append(allocator, env.get("SHELL") orelse "/bin/sh");
     }
 
     // Use the current plane dimensions for the initial pty size. The plane

From df5c426383ee00f1a1528cf21273223c7ae5ef51 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CJ van den Berg <cj@vdbonline.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:21:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 10/10] fix(terminal): set terminal hold when running tasks in
 terminal

---
 src/tui/mode/overlay/task_palette.zig | 9 ++++-----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/tui/mode/overlay/task_palette.zig b/src/tui/mode/overlay/task_palette.zig
index 54d3ae27..4f1a1604 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/overlay/task_palette.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/overlay/task_palette.zig
@@ -138,11 +138,10 @@ fn select(menu: **Type.MenuType, button: *Type.ButtonType, _: Type.Pos) void {
     } else {
         tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "exit_overlay_mode" }) catch |e| menu.*.opts.ctx.logger.err(module_name, e);
         project_manager.add_task(entry.label) catch {};
-        const run_cmd = switch (activate) {
-            .normal => "run_task",
-            .alternate => "run_task_in_terminal",
-        };
-        tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", run_cmd, .{entry.label} }) catch |e| menu.*.opts.ctx.logger.err(module_name, e);
+        (switch (activate) {
+            .normal => tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "run_task", .{entry.label} }),
+            .alternate => tp.self_pid().send(.{ "cmd", "run_task_in_terminal", .{ entry.label, "hold" } }),
+        }) catch |e| menu.*.opts.ctx.logger.err(module_name, e);
     }
 }