commit 38ff96c5760a80fb231494896d165c8f869a2e70
Author: Jon <git@jonstarkey.co.uk>
Date:   Thu Jun 4 12:31:37 2026 +0100

    Scaffold SimpleX Orchestrate: supervisor over official binaries
    
    A standalone control-plane app that spawns and drives the official SimpleX
    binaries (never modifies simplex source). Validated against simplex-chat
    built from source (stable v6.5.4, GHC 9.6.3).
    
    - CLAUDE.md: architecture notes mined from the upstream docs (WebSocket bot API,
      per-profile DBs, directory/broadcast bot config)
    - supervisor/: process registry + port allocation (supervisor.py), corrId/cmd<->resp
      WebSocket client (ws_client.py), binary locator (binaries.py), FastAPI front with
      REST control + /events stream (server.py)
    - smoke_test.py: Pattern-1 handshake (spawn simplex-chat -p, create+read user) — PASS
    - group_test.py: two accounts, invitation connect + group invite/join, verified
      membership over the real SMP network — PASS
    - build_chat.sh / install_ghc.sh: reproducible toolchain + from-source build
    
    Key finding: fresh DB prompts for a display name on stdin; spawn with
    --create-bot-display-name to start the WebSocket server non-interactively.
    
    Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83e89c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Upstream simplex-chat checkout (cloned separately; never modified/committed here)
+simplex-chat/
+# Built / downloaded binaries
+bin/
+# Python env and caches
+.venv/
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+# Runtime per-profile databases + logs
+data/
+*.log
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0901113
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+# SimpleX Orchestrate — project notes for Claude
+
+Goal: a web-managed **orchestrator** that runs the **official SimpleX binaries** (instead of
+re-implementing bot logic against the FFI `libsimplex` SDK, as the older `simplex-manager`
+prototype did). The manager spawns/supervises real SimpleX processes, drives the interactive
+ones over WebSocket, and reads the autonomous ones' output.
+
+Reference checkout: `./simplex-chat/` (cloned from https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat).
+All facts below are taken from that repo's own docs — cited inline. There is **no** CLAUDE.md /
+AGENTS.md in the upstream repo; the authoritative interface docs are:
+- `simplex-chat/bots/README.md` — bot architecture & WebSocket API
+- `simplex-chat/bots/api/COMMANDS.md`, `EVENTS.md`, `TYPES.md` — full command/event/type reference
+- `simplex-chat/docs/CLI.md` — terminal client / DB / server flags
+- `simplex-chat/apps/*/README.md` + `src/.../Options.hs` — the official bot binaries
+- Official TypeScript SDK: `simplex-chat/packages/simplex-chat-client/typescript/`
+
+---
+
+## Two integration patterns (this is the core design decision)
+
+**1. Interactive accounts → drive the CLI over WebSocket** (`bots/README.md`)
+- Run the terminal client as a local WebSocket server: `simplex-chat -p 5225`
+- Our process connects over WebSocket and sends JSON commands / receives events.
+- This is how custom bots (TS/Python/Rust) and our manager talk to a profile.
+- Same command strings as the app's *Settings → Developer tools → Chat Console*.
+
+**2. Autonomous official bots → run the prebuilt Haskell binary directly**
+- `simplex-directory-service` and `simplex-broadcast-bot` are standalone executables built on
+  the chat core. They run their **own** logic, with their **own** DB + config, no WebSocket.
+- The manager's job for these is lifecycle (spawn/stop/monitor/logs) + reading their output.
+- **Use these instead of reimplementing directory/broadcast in Python** — they're battle-tested
+  and include captcha, moderation, approval, periodic re-checks, website generation, etc.
+
+---
+
+## WebSocket protocol (pattern 1) — `bots/README.md`
+
+- `simplex-chat -p <port>` starts the WS server. **localhost only, NO authentication** — keep the
+  bot process on the same machine and firewall the port. Messages are unencrypted.
+- Command:  `{"corrId":"<unique>", "cmd":"<command string>"}`
+- Response: `{"corrId":"<same>", "resp":{"type":"<tag>", ...}}`  (matched by corrId)
+- Event:    `{"resp":{"type":"<tag>", ...}}`  (no corrId — connections, received messages, etc.)
+- `NewChatItems` arrives both as a command response (after `APISendMessages`) and as an event.
+- Parser must **ignore unknown event types / union tags / extra fields** (forward-compat rule).
+- Minimal bot loop: handle `NewChatItems` event → reply with `APISendMessages`.
+- Network usage per command is documented: `no` / `interactive` / `background`.
+
+## Per-profile databases — `docs/CLI.md`
+
+- `simplex-chat -d <prefix>` → creates `<prefix>_v1_chat.db` and `<prefix>_v1_agent.db`.
+- Default data dir `~/.simplex` (`%APPDATA%/simplex` on Windows).
+- **One process = one DB prefix.** A single DB *can* hold multiple bot profiles via
+  `/create bot [files=on] <name> [<bio>]`, but the simple model is one process per profile.
+- SMP servers: `-s smp://<fp>@host`. Tor: `-x` or `--socks-proxy=:9050`. `simplex-chat -h` for all.
+
+## Bot profile setup — `bots/README.md` (needs app/CLI v6.4.3+)
+
+- Mark a profile as a bot: `peerType: "bot"`. Set via:
+  - CLI flags `--create-bot-display-name`, `--create-bot-allow-files` on first start, or
+  - `/create bot [files=on] '<name>' [<bio>]`, or
+  - `APIUpdateProfile` (also sets command menus).
+- Command menus: `/set bot commands '<label>':/'<keyword>[ <params>]', '<label>':{...nested...}`
+  (e.g. directory's `'Show your groups':/list`). Per-contact overrides via `APISetContactPrefs`.
+- **Business address** (support): a special group chat per connecting customer; inherits the bot's
+  preferences/commands. See `docs/BUSINESS.md`.
+
+---
+
+## Official bot: Directory service — `apps/simplex-directory-service/` (`Directory/Options.hs`)
+
+Run the `simplex-directory-service` binary; it manages registration + search and **writes the
+website files itself**. Replaces the Python directory reimplementation in the old prototype.
+
+Key CLI options:
+- `--super-users CONTACT_ID:DISPLAY_NAME,...` (required) — who can approve/manage listings
+- `--admin-users CONTACT_ID:DISPLAY_NAME,...` — directory managers
+- `--owners-group GROUP_ID:DISPLAY_NAME` — owners of listed groups auto-invited
+- `--directory-file PATH` — append-only log holding directory state
+- `--web-folder PATH` — **where static web assets / group listing files are written** (this is what
+  feeds the directory website; our old `web/<bot>/data/listing.json` was a hand-rolled stand-in)
+- `--service-name "SimpleX Directory"` — bot display name (default shown)
+- `--captcha-generator EXE` / `--voice-captcha-generator EXE` — anti-spam
+- `--blocked-words-file` / `--blocked-fragments-file` / `--blocked-extenstion-rules` /
+  `--name-spelling-file` / `--profile-name-limit` — moderation
+- `--link-check-interval SECONDS` (default 1800) — periodic re-check of public group links
+- `--run-cli` — interactive CLI mode
+- `--migrate-directory-file <check|import|export|listing>` — `listing` = `saveGroupListingFiles`
+  regenerates the website listing files from the log
+- plus core chat options (DB file, SMP servers, Tor) shared with the CLI
+- Registration flow = **owner adds the bot to their group**; listing stays pending until a
+  super-user approves (matches what we scoped for the prototype).
+
+## Official bot: Broadcast — `apps/simplex-broadcast-bot/`
+
+- `--display-name`, `--publishers CONTACT_ID:DISPLAY_NAME,...`, `--welcome`, `--prohibited`
+  (+ core DB/SMP options). Re-broadcasts messages from publishers to all connected contacts.
+
+## Other official bot apps
+- `apps/simplex-bot` / `simplex-bot-advanced` — minimal Haskell bot examples
+- `apps/simplex-support-bot` — support/business example
+- `apps/simplex-chat` — the terminal CLI itself
+
+---
+
+## Getting the binaries
+- Install script: `curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/stable/install.sh | bash`
+  → `simplex-chat` on PATH (CLI only).
+- Prebuilt binaries: GitHub Releases (per stable version).
+- Build from source (`docs/CLI.md`): GHC 9.6.3 + cabal 3.10.1.0, or
+  `DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 docker build --output ~/.local/bin .`. Bot apps build via
+  `cabal install <exe>` (e.g. `simplex-directory-service`, `simplex-broadcast-bot`).
+- **Build the stable branch**, not master.
+
+## Proposed orchestrator architecture (to flesh out)
+- Manager (web UI + supervisor) keeps a registry of profiles. Each profile has a kind:
+  - `cli` (interactive: user/echo/support/custom) → spawn `simplex-chat -p <port> -d data/<name>`,
+    connect WS, proxy commands; one port per profile.
+  - `directory` → spawn `simplex-directory-service` with `--directory-file`, `--web-folder`,
+    `--super-users`, DB; supervise + serve its web folder.
+  - `broadcast` → spawn `simplex-broadcast-bot` with publishers/welcome; supervise.
+- Web frontend talks only to the manager; the manager owns process lifecycle, port allocation,
+  log capture, and (for directory) serving the generated web folder.
+- Security: bind all CLI WS ports to localhost; never expose unauthenticated WS publicly.
+</content>
diff --git a/build_chat.sh b/build_chat.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..02dfb0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build_chat.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+export PATH="$HOME/.ghcup/bin:$PATH"
+cd /home/user/code/simplex-orchestrate/simplex-chat
+echo "=== toolchain ==="; ghc --version; cabal --version
+echo "=== cabal update ==="; cabal update
+echo "=== building exe:simplex-chat (long) ==="
+cabal build exe:simplex-chat
+BIN="$(cabal list-bin exe:simplex-chat)"
+echo "=== built: $BIN ==="
+cp "$BIN" /home/user/code/simplex-orchestrate/bin/simplex-chat
+chmod +x /home/user/code/simplex-orchestrate/bin/simplex-chat
+/home/user/code/simplex-orchestrate/bin/simplex-chat --help >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "binary runs OK"
+echo "=== BUILD COMPLETE ==="
diff --git a/group_test.py b/group_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..179fc63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/group_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+"""Two-account integration test over the WebSocket interface:
+
+  alice ──invitation──▶ bob          (1-time link connect → contacts)
+  alice creates group, invites bob → bob joins → verify membership both sides.
+
+Exercises the real async + SMP-network path (not just local commands).
+Run (needs ./bin/simplex-chat):  .venv/bin/python group_test.py
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import json
+import sys
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent))
+from supervisor.supervisor import Supervisor  # noqa: E402
+
+events: dict[str, list[dict]] = {"alice": [], "bob": []}
+
+
+async def on_event(name: str, resp: dict) -> None:
+    events.setdefault(name, []).append(resp)
+
+
+async def wait_event(name: str, pred, timeout: float, label: str) -> dict:
+    start = time.time()
+    i = 0
+    while time.time() - start < timeout:
+        while i < len(events[name]):
+            e = events[name][i]; i += 1
+            if pred(e):
+                return e
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.3)
+    raise TimeoutError(f"[{name}] timed out waiting for {label}")
+
+
+async def poll(coro_factory, pred, timeout: float, label: str):
+    start = time.time()
+    while time.time() - start < timeout:
+        val = await coro_factory()
+        if pred(val):
+            return val
+        await asyncio.sleep(1.0)
+    raise TimeoutError(f"timed out polling for {label}")
+
+
+def invitation_link(resp: dict) -> str:
+    inv = resp.get("connLinkInvitation") or {}
+    return inv.get("connShortLink") or inv.get("connFullLink", "")
+
+
+async def main() -> int:
+    sup = Supervisor(data_dir="data", base_port=5500, on_event=on_event)
+    ok = False
+    try:
+        print("→ starting two accounts (alice, bob) …")
+        await sup.start_cli("alice")
+        await sup.start_cli("bob")
+        for n in ("alice", "bob"):
+            r = await sup.send(n, "/_start")
+            print(f"  {n} /_start -> {r.get('type')}")
+
+        uidA = (await sup.send("alice", "/user"))["user"]["userId"]
+        uidB = (await sup.send("bob", "/user"))["user"]["userId"]
+        print(f"  alice uid={uidA}  bob uid={uidB}")
+
+        # 1. connect via 1-time invitation
+        inv = await sup.send("alice", f"/_connect {uidA}")
+        link = invitation_link(inv)
+        print(f"→ alice invitation ({inv.get('type')}): {link[:55]}…")
+        cb = await sup.send("bob", f"/connect {link}")
+        print(f"→ bob /connect -> {cb.get('type')}")
+
+        print("→ waiting for contactConnected (SMP handshake) …")
+        await wait_event("alice", lambda e: e.get("type") == "contactConnected", 120, "alice contactConnected")
+        print("  ✓ alice: contact connected")
+        await wait_event("bob", lambda e: e.get("type") == "contactConnected", 120, "bob contactConnected")
+        print("  ✓ bob: contact connected")
+
+        # 2. alice creates a group and invites bob
+        contacts = (await sup.send("alice", f"/_contacts {uidA}")).get("contacts", [])
+        bob_cid = contacts[0]["contactId"]
+        print(f"→ bob is contactId={bob_cid} on alice")
+        gr = await sup.send("alice", f'/_group {uidA} ' + json.dumps({"displayName": "testgrp", "fullName": ""}))
+        gid = gr["groupInfo"]["groupId"]
+        print(f"→ group created gid={gid} ({gr.get('type')})")
+        add = await sup.send("alice", f"/_add #{gid} {bob_cid} member")
+        print(f"→ alice /_add bob -> {add.get('type')}")
+
+        # 3. bob sees the pending invite, then joins
+        async def bob_groups():
+            return (await sup.send("bob", f"/_groups {uidB}")).get("groups", [])
+        bgroups = await poll(bob_groups, lambda gs: len(gs) > 0, 120, "bob receives group invite")
+        bg = bgroups[0]
+        print(f"  ✓ bob sees group #{bg['groupId']} status={bg['membership']['memberStatus']}")
+        j = await sup.send("bob", f"/_join #{bg['groupId']}")
+        print(f"→ bob /_join -> {j.get('type')}")
+
+        # 4. verify membership on both sides
+        print("→ waiting for member to connect in group …")
+        await wait_event(
+            "alice",
+            lambda e: e.get("type") in ("memberConnected", "joinedGroupMember", "connectedToGroupMember"),
+            120, "alice memberConnected",
+        )
+        print("  ✓ alice: member connected event")
+
+        async def alice_member_count():
+            ag = (await sup.send("alice", f"/_groups {uidA}")).get("groups", [])
+            return ag[0]["groupSummary"]["currentMembers"] if ag else 0
+        count = await poll(alice_member_count, lambda c: c >= 2, 60, "group reaches 2 members")
+        mem = (await sup.send("alice", f"/_members #{gid}"))["group"]["members"]
+        print(f"  alice group members: {[(m['localDisplayName'], m['memberStatus']) for m in mem]}")
+        print(f"  alice group currentMembers = {count}")
+        ok = count >= 2
+    finally:
+        await sup.stop_all()
+
+    print("\nRESULT:", "PASS — invite/join verified end to end" if ok else "INCOMPLETE")
+    return 0 if ok else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(asyncio.run(main()))
diff --git a/install_ghc.sh b/install_ghc.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..bf69bf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install_ghc.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+export BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_NONINTERACTIVE=1
+export BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_GHC_VERSION=9.6.3
+export BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_CABAL_VERSION=3.10.1.0
+export BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_INSTALL_NO_STACK=1
+export BOOTSTRAP_HASKELL_ADJUST_BASHRC=0
+curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://get-ghcup.haskell.org | sh
+echo "=== DONE ==="
+"$HOME/.ghcup/bin/ghc" --version
+"$HOME/.ghcup/bin/cabal" --version
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..614bcf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fastapi
+uvicorn[standard]
+websockets
diff --git a/smoke_test.py b/smoke_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a3f453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smoke_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Pattern-1 smoke test: spawn a real `simplex-chat -p` process, drive it over the
+WebSocket corrId/cmd↔resp handshake, and confirm a structured response comes back.
+
+Validates the supervisor + ws_client against a real binary. Local commands only
+(/user, /_create user, /users) — no network needed.
+
+Run (with ./bin/simplex-chat present):  python smoke_test.py
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import json
+import shutil
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent))
+from supervisor.supervisor import Supervisor  # noqa: E402
+
+
+async def main() -> int:
+    events: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
+
+    async def on_event(name: str, resp: dict) -> None:
+        events.append((name, resp.get("type", "?")))
+
+    sup = Supervisor(data_dir="data", base_port=5400, on_event=on_event)
+    ok = False
+    try:
+        print("→ spawning simplex-chat -p (profile 'smoke') …")
+        m = await sup.start_cli("smoke")
+        print(f"  process pid={m.proc.pid} port={m.port}, WebSocket connected")
+
+        print("→ /user (show active user)")
+        r = await sup.send("smoke", "/user")
+        print("   resp.type =", r.get("type"))
+
+        if r.get("type") != "activeUser":
+            new_user = {
+                "profile": {"displayName": "smoke", "fullName": ""},
+                "pastTimestamp": False,
+                "userChatRelay": False,
+            }
+            print("→ /_create user")
+            rc = await sup.send("smoke", "/_create user " + json.dumps(new_user))
+            print("   resp.type =", rc.get("type"))
+            r = await sup.send("smoke", "/user")
+            print("   /user resp.type =", r.get("type"))
+
+        user = r.get("user") or {}
+        print("   active user displayName =", user.get("localDisplayName"))
+
+        rl = await sup.send("smoke", "/users")
+        print("→ /users resp.type =", rl.get("type"),
+              "count =", len(rl.get("users", []) if isinstance(rl, dict) else []))
+
+        ok = r.get("type") == "activeUser"
+    finally:
+        await sup.stop("smoke")
+        print("→ stopped process")
+
+    print("   events observed:", events[:5])
+    print("\nRESULT:", "PASS — corrId/cmd↔resp handshake works" if ok else "FAIL")
+    return 0 if ok else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(asyncio.run(main()))
diff --git a/supervisor/__init__.py b/supervisor/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e972cb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+"""SimpleX Orchestrate supervisor — spawns and drives the official SimpleX binaries.
+
+It never modifies or rebuilds simplex-chat; it only invokes prebuilt binaries.
+"""
+
+from .supervisor import Managed, Supervisor
+from .ws_client import SimplexWSClient
+
+__all__ = ["Supervisor", "Managed", "SimplexWSClient"]
diff --git a/supervisor/binaries.py b/supervisor/binaries.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e20701c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/binaries.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""Locate the official SimpleX binaries — never built/modified here, only invoked.
+
+Resolution order: $SIMPLEX_BIN dir, then ./bin/, then PATH. Place prebuilt
+binaries (simplex-chat, simplex-directory-service, simplex-broadcast-bot) in ./bin/
+or install via the upstream install script. We never compile or alter them.
+"""
+
+import os
+import shutil
+from pathlib import Path
+
+BIN_DIR = Path(os.environ.get("SIMPLEX_BIN", Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "bin"))
+
+KNOWN = ("simplex-chat", "simplex-directory-service", "simplex-broadcast-bot")
+
+
+def binary_path(name: str) -> str:
+    local = BIN_DIR / name
+    if local.exists():
+        return str(local)
+    found = shutil.which(name)
+    if found:
+        return found
+    raise FileNotFoundError(f"{name!r} not found in {BIN_DIR} or PATH")
diff --git a/supervisor/server.py b/supervisor/server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..022101c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+"""Front-facing API the website talks to.
+
+The browser:
+  - opens a WebSocket to /events to receive live chat events from every profile
+    (each event is tagged with the originating profile name);
+  - uses REST to spawn/stop profiles and to send commands to cli profiles.
+
+This process sits between the website and the SimpleX binaries; it is the only
+thing that touches the binaries. Run: uvicorn supervisor.server:app
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import contextlib
+
+from fastapi import FastAPI, WebSocket, WebSocketDisconnect
+
+from .supervisor import Supervisor
+
+app = FastAPI(title="SimpleX Orchestrate")
+
+_browser_clients: set[WebSocket] = set()
+
+
+async def _broadcast(name: str, event: dict) -> None:
+    dead = []
+    for ws in _browser_clients:
+        try:
+            await ws.send_json({"profile": name, "event": event})
+        except Exception:
+            dead.append(ws)
+    for ws in dead:
+        _browser_clients.discard(ws)
+
+
+sup = Supervisor(on_event=_broadcast)
+
+
+@app.on_event("shutdown")
+async def _shutdown() -> None:
+    await sup.stop_all()
+
+
+# ── Control (REST) ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+@app.get("/profiles")
+async def profiles() -> dict:
+    return {"profiles": sup.list()}
+
+
+@app.post("/profiles/{name}/start-cli")
+async def start_cli(name: str) -> dict:
+    await sup.start_cli(name)
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+@app.post("/profiles/{name}/start-directory")
+async def start_directory(name: str, body: dict) -> dict:
+    await sup.start_directory(name, body["super_users"], body["web_folder"])
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+@app.post("/profiles/{name}/start-broadcast")
+async def start_broadcast(name: str, body: dict) -> dict:
+    await sup.start_broadcast(name, body["display_name"], body["publishers"])
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+@app.post("/profiles/{name}/cmd")
+async def cmd(name: str, body: dict) -> dict:
+    """Send a raw chat command string to a cli profile (e.g. '/_send @1 text hi')."""
+    return {"resp": await sup.send(name, body["cmd"])}
+
+
+@app.post("/profiles/{name}/stop")
+async def stop(name: str) -> dict:
+    await sup.stop(name)
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+# ── Live events (WebSocket) ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+@app.websocket("/events")
+async def events(ws: WebSocket) -> None:
+    await ws.accept()
+    _browser_clients.add(ws)
+    try:
+        while True:
+            await ws.receive_text()  # keep the socket open; ignore inbound
+    except WebSocketDisconnect:
+        pass
+    finally:
+        _browser_clients.discard(ws)
diff --git a/supervisor/supervisor.py b/supervisor/supervisor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfd1aca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/supervisor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+"""Process supervisor: spawns and tracks the official SimpleX binaries.
+
+Two kinds of managed process (see ../CLAUDE.md):
+  - cli       : `simplex-chat -p PORT -d PREFIX`  → we hold a WebSocket and stream commands
+  - directory : `simplex-directory-service ...`   → autonomous; lifecycle + read its web-folder
+  - broadcast : `simplex-broadcast-bot ...`        → autonomous; lifecycle only
+
+The DB belongs to each process; we never open it ourselves while the process runs.
+
+NOTE: exact flag spellings for the autonomous bots should be confirmed with
+`<binary> --help` once binaries are in ./bin — the directory flags here follow
+apps/simplex-directory-service/src/Directory/Options.hs.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import contextlib
+from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from .binaries import binary_path
+from .ws_client import SimplexWSClient
+
+# (profile_name, event_record) -> None
+EventSink = Callable[[str, dict], Awaitable[None]]
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Managed:
+    name: str
+    kind: str  # 'cli' | 'directory' | 'broadcast'
+    proc: asyncio.subprocess.Process
+    port: int | None = None
+    client: SimplexWSClient | None = None
+
+
+class Supervisor:
+    def __init__(self, data_dir: str = "data", base_port: int = 5300, on_event: EventSink | None = None):
+        self.data_dir = Path(data_dir)
+        self.data_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self._next_port = base_port
+        self._procs: dict[str, Managed] = {}
+        self._on_event = on_event
+
+    def _alloc_port(self) -> int:
+        port = self._next_port
+        self._next_port += 1
+        return port
+
+    def list(self) -> list[dict]:
+        return [
+            {"name": m.name, "kind": m.kind, "port": m.port, "running": m.proc.returncode is None}
+            for m in self._procs.values()
+        ]
+
+    # ── Pattern 1: interactive CLI (driven over WebSocket) ──────────────────────
+    async def start_cli(self, name: str, display_name: str | None = None,
+                        allow_files: bool = True, extra_args: tuple[str, ...] = ()) -> Managed:
+        if name in self._procs:
+            return self._procs[name]
+        port = self._alloc_port()
+        prefix = str(self.data_dir / name)
+        # On a fresh DB the CLI prompts for a display name on stdin and won't start
+        # the WS server. --create-bot-display-name creates the profile non-interactively
+        # (no-op once the DB exists, so it's safe to always pass).
+        args = ["-p", str(port), "-d", prefix, "--create-bot-display-name", display_name or name]
+        if allow_files:
+            args.append("--create-bot-allow-files")
+        args += list(extra_args)
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            binary_path("simplex-chat"), *args,
+            stdin=asyncio.subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE, stderr=asyncio.subprocess.STDOUT,
+        )
+        client = SimplexWSClient(port, on_event=lambda r: self._emit(name, r))
+        await self._connect_with_retry(client)
+        m = Managed(name=name, kind="cli", proc=proc, port=port, client=client)
+        self._procs[name] = m
+        return m
+
+    async def _connect_with_retry(self, client: SimplexWSClient, attempts: int = 40, delay: float = 0.25) -> None:
+        for _ in range(attempts):
+            try:
+                await client.connect()
+                return
+            except OSError:
+                await asyncio.sleep(delay)  # WS server not up yet
+        raise RuntimeError("simplex-chat websocket did not come up")
+
+    async def send(self, name: str, cmd: str) -> dict:
+        m = self._procs.get(name)
+        if not m or not m.client:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"{name!r} is not a running cli profile")
+        return await m.client.send_cmd(cmd)
+
+    # ── Pattern 2: autonomous official bots (lifecycle + config-at-launch) ──────
+    async def start_directory(self, name: str, super_users: str, web_folder: str,
+                              extra_args: tuple[str, ...] = ()) -> Managed:
+        if name in self._procs:
+            return self._procs[name]
+        prefix = str(self.data_dir / name)
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            binary_path("simplex-directory-service"),
+            "-d", prefix,
+            "--super-users", super_users,                       # CONTACT_ID:NAME,...
+            "--directory-file", f"{prefix}_directory.log",      # append-only state log
+            "--web-folder", web_folder,                          # bot writes listing files here
+            *extra_args,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE, stderr=asyncio.subprocess.STDOUT,
+        )
+        m = Managed(name=name, kind="directory", proc=proc)  # no WS — autonomous
+        self._procs[name] = m
+        return m
+
+    async def start_broadcast(self, name: str, display_name: str, publishers: str,
+                              extra_args: tuple[str, ...] = ()) -> Managed:
+        if name in self._procs:
+            return self._procs[name]
+        prefix = str(self.data_dir / name)
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            binary_path("simplex-broadcast-bot"),
+            "-d", prefix,
+            "--display-name", display_name,
+            "--publishers", publishers,                          # CONTACT_ID:NAME,...
+            *extra_args,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE, stderr=asyncio.subprocess.STDOUT,
+        )
+        m = Managed(name=name, kind="broadcast", proc=proc)
+        self._procs[name] = m
+        return m
+
+    # ── Lifecycle ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    async def stop(self, name: str) -> None:
+        m = self._procs.pop(name, None)
+        if not m:
+            return
+        if m.client:
+            await m.client.close()
+        with contextlib.suppress(ProcessLookupError):
+            m.proc.terminate()
+        with contextlib.suppress(asyncio.TimeoutError):
+            await asyncio.wait_for(m.proc.wait(), 5)
+        with contextlib.suppress(ProcessLookupError):
+            if m.proc.returncode is None:
+                m.proc.kill()
+
+    async def stop_all(self) -> None:
+        for name in list(self._procs):
+            await self.stop(name)
+
+    async def _emit(self, name: str, resp: dict) -> None:
+        if self._on_event:
+            await self._on_event(name, resp)
diff --git a/supervisor/ws_client.py b/supervisor/ws_client.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a33e373
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/ws_client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+"""WebSocket client for a `simplex-chat -p <port>` process (Pattern 1 control).
+
+Protocol (simplex-chat/bots/README.md):
+  - send    {"corrId": "<unique>", "cmd": "<command string>"}
+  - response{"corrId": "<same>",  "resp": {"type": ..., ...}}   (matched by corrId)
+  - event   {"resp": {"type": ..., ...}}                        (no corrId)
+
+We keep one long-lived connection per profile. Responses resolve futures keyed by
+corrId; events (no corrId) are pushed to an async callback.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import itertools
+import json
+from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
+
+import websockets
+
+EventHandler = Callable[[dict], Awaitable[None]]
+
+
+class SimplexWSClient:
+    def __init__(self, port: int, on_event: EventHandler | None = None):
+        self.url = f"ws://localhost:{port}/"
+        self._on_event = on_event
+        self._ws: websockets.WebSocketClientProtocol | None = None
+        self._corr = itertools.count(1)
+        self._pending: dict[str, asyncio.Future] = {}
+        self._reader: asyncio.Task | None = None
+
+    async def connect(self) -> None:
+        # max_size=None: chat responses (chat lists, profiles w/ avatars) can be large.
+        self._ws = await websockets.connect(self.url, max_size=None)
+        self._reader = asyncio.create_task(self._read_loop())
+
+    async def _read_loop(self) -> None:
+        assert self._ws is not None
+        async for raw in self._ws:
+            try:
+                msg = json.loads(raw)
+            except Exception:
+                continue
+            corr = msg.get("corrId")
+            resp = msg.get("resp")
+            fut = self._pending.pop(corr, None) if corr else None
+            if fut is not None:
+                if not fut.done():
+                    fut.set_result(resp)
+            elif resp is not None and self._on_event is not None:
+                # Forward-compat: never fail on unknown event types (bots/README.md)
+                try:
+                    await self._on_event(resp)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+
+    async def send_cmd(self, cmd: str, timeout: float = 30.0) -> dict:
+        """Send a chat command string, await its matching response record."""
+        if self._ws is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("not connected")
+        corr = str(next(self._corr))
+        fut: asyncio.Future = asyncio.get_event_loop().create_future()
+        self._pending[corr] = fut
+        await self._ws.send(json.dumps({"corrId": corr, "cmd": cmd}))
+        try:
+            return await asyncio.wait_for(fut, timeout)
+        finally:
+            self._pending.pop(corr, None)
+
+    async def close(self) -> None:
+        if self._reader:
+            self._reader.cancel()
+        if self._ws:
+            await self._ws.close()