diff --git a/crates/tui/src/lib.rs b/crates/tui/src/lib.rs
index 71eacd14..699da9a7 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ mod markdown;
 mod scroll;
 pub mod setup_model;
 mod standalone_picker;
+mod standalone_spawn;
 mod task;
 mod text_selection;
 mod tool;
@@ -136,17 +137,21 @@ pub async fn launch(options: LaunchOptions) -> ExitCode {
         LaunchMode::Spawn {
             worker_name,
             profile,
-        } => match target.spawn_worker() {
-            Ok(spawn) => {
-                console::run_standalone(
-                    workspace_root.clone(),
-                    spawn.state_dir,
-                    worker_name,
-                    profile,
-                )
-                .await
-            }
-            Err(e) => Err(Box::new(e) as Box<dyn std::error::Error>),
+        } => match standalone_spawn::select(&workspace_root, worker_name, profile) {
+            Ok(Some(selection)) => match target.spawn_worker() {
+                Ok(spawn) => {
+                    console::run_standalone(
+                        workspace_root.clone(),
+                        spawn.state_dir,
+                        Some(selection.worker_name),
+                        Some(selection.profile),
+                    )
+                    .await
+                }
+                Err(error) => Err(Box::new(error) as Box<dyn std::error::Error>),
+            },
+            Ok(None) => Ok(()),
+            Err(error) => Err(Box::new(error) as Box<dyn std::error::Error>),
         },
         LaunchMode::StandaloneResume { include_all } => {
             match standalone_picker::pick(target.as_ref(), include_all) {
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/standalone_spawn.rs b/crates/tui/src/standalone_spawn.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1880803d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/tui/src/standalone_spawn.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,494 @@
+use std::io::{self, Stdout};
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use crossterm::event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyEventKind, KeyModifiers};
+use manifest::ProfileDiscovery;
+use ratatui::Terminal;
+use ratatui::backend::CrosstermBackend;
+use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout};
+use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
+use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
+use thiserror::Error;
+
+const VIEWPORT_HEIGHT: u16 = 6;
+const FALLBACK_WORKER_NAME: &str = "worker";
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(crate) struct StandaloneSpawnSelection {
+    pub worker_name: String,
+    pub profile: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub(crate) enum StandaloneSpawnError {
+    #[error("profile discovery failed: {0}")]
+    ProfileDiscovery(#[from] manifest::ProfileError),
+    #[error("no profiles are available")]
+    NoProfiles,
+    #[error("standalone spawn picker terminal error: {0}")]
+    Terminal(#[from] io::Error),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+struct ProfileChoice {
+    selector: String,
+    label: String,
+    is_default: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum StatusKind {
+    Info,
+    Progress,
+    Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum SpawnAction {
+    None,
+    Submit,
+    Cancel,
+}
+
+struct SpawnForm {
+    worker_name: String,
+    cursor: usize,
+    profile_choices: Vec<ProfileChoice>,
+    selected_profile: usize,
+    status: Option<(String, StatusKind)>,
+}
+
+impl SpawnForm {
+    fn new(
+        worker_name: Option<String>,
+        default_worker_name: String,
+        profile_choices: Vec<ProfileChoice>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let worker_name = worker_name.unwrap_or(default_worker_name);
+        let cursor = worker_name.chars().count();
+        let selected_profile = profile_choices
+            .iter()
+            .position(|choice| choice.is_default)
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        Self {
+            worker_name,
+            cursor,
+            profile_choices,
+            selected_profile,
+            status: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn selected_profile(&self) -> &ProfileChoice {
+        &self.profile_choices[self.selected_profile]
+    }
+
+    fn apply_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> SpawnAction {
+        if key.kind == KeyEventKind::Release {
+            return SpawnAction::None;
+        }
+
+        if key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) {
+            match key.code {
+                KeyCode::Char('c') | KeyCode::Char('u') => return SpawnAction::Cancel,
+                _ => return SpawnAction::None,
+            }
+        }
+
+        self.status = None;
+        match key.code {
+            KeyCode::Esc => SpawnAction::Cancel,
+            KeyCode::Enter => {
+                if self.worker_name.trim().is_empty() {
+                    self.status =
+                        Some(("worker name cannot be empty".to_owned(), StatusKind::Error));
+                    SpawnAction::None
+                } else {
+                    SpawnAction::Submit
+                }
+            }
+            KeyCode::Tab | KeyCode::Down => {
+                self.selected_profile = (self.selected_profile + 1) % self.profile_choices.len();
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::BackTab | KeyCode::Up => {
+                self.selected_profile = if self.selected_profile == 0 {
+                    self.profile_choices.len() - 1
+                } else {
+                    self.selected_profile - 1
+                };
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Left => {
+                self.cursor = self.cursor.saturating_sub(1);
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Right => {
+                self.cursor = (self.cursor + 1).min(self.worker_name.chars().count());
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Home => {
+                self.cursor = 0;
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::End => {
+                self.cursor = self.worker_name.chars().count();
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Backspace => {
+                if self.cursor > 0 {
+                    let idx = byte_index(&self.worker_name, self.cursor - 1);
+                    self.worker_name.remove(idx);
+                    self.cursor -= 1;
+                }
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Delete => {
+                if self.cursor < self.worker_name.chars().count() {
+                    let idx = byte_index(&self.worker_name, self.cursor);
+                    self.worker_name.remove(idx);
+                }
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char(ch) if is_safe_worker_char(ch) => {
+                let idx = byte_index(&self.worker_name, self.cursor);
+                self.worker_name.insert(idx, ch);
+                self.cursor += 1;
+                SpawnAction::None
+            }
+            _ => SpawnAction::None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn select(
+    workspace_root: &Path,
+    worker_name: Option<String>,
+    profile: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<Option<StandaloneSpawnSelection>, StandaloneSpawnError> {
+    let default_worker_name = default_worker_name(workspace_root);
+    if let Some(profile) = profile {
+        return Ok(Some(StandaloneSpawnSelection {
+            worker_name: worker_name.unwrap_or(default_worker_name),
+            profile,
+        }));
+    }
+
+    let registry = ProfileDiscovery::user_settings().discover()?;
+    let choices = profile_choices(&registry);
+    if choices.is_empty() {
+        return Err(StandaloneSpawnError::NoProfiles);
+    }
+
+    let terminal = open_inline_terminal()?;
+    run_picker(
+        terminal,
+        SpawnForm::new(worker_name, default_worker_name, choices),
+    )
+}
+
+fn run_picker(
+    mut terminal: Terminal<CrosstermBackend<Stdout>>,
+    mut form: SpawnForm,
+) -> Result<Option<StandaloneSpawnSelection>, StandaloneSpawnError> {
+    loop {
+        terminal.draw(|frame| draw_form(frame, &form))?;
+        if !event::poll(Duration::from_millis(100))? {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let Event::Key(key) = event::read()? else {
+            continue;
+        };
+
+        match form.apply_key(key) {
+            SpawnAction::None => {}
+            SpawnAction::Cancel => {
+                form.status = Some(("cancelled".to_owned(), StatusKind::Info));
+                terminal.draw(|frame| draw_form(frame, &form))?;
+                return Ok(None);
+            }
+            SpawnAction::Submit => {
+                let selection = StandaloneSpawnSelection {
+                    worker_name: form.worker_name.trim().to_owned(),
+                    profile: form.selected_profile().selector.clone(),
+                };
+                form.status = Some(("starting worker...".to_owned(), StatusKind::Progress));
+                terminal.draw(|frame| draw_form(frame, &form))?;
+                return Ok(Some(selection));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn open_inline_terminal() -> io::Result<Terminal<CrosstermBackend<Stdout>>> {
+    let options = ratatui::TerminalOptions {
+        viewport: ratatui::Viewport::Inline(VIEWPORT_HEIGHT),
+    };
+    Terminal::with_options(CrosstermBackend::new(io::stdout()), options)
+}
+
+fn profile_choices(registry: &manifest::ProfileRegistry) -> Vec<ProfileChoice> {
+    registry
+        .entries()
+        .iter()
+        .map(|entry| {
+            let selector = entry.qualified_name();
+            let default_marker = if entry.is_default { " (default)" } else { "" };
+            let mut label = format!("{selector}{default_marker}");
+            if let Some(description) = &entry.description {
+                label.push_str(" — ");
+                label.push_str(description);
+            }
+            ProfileChoice {
+                selector,
+                label,
+                is_default: entry.is_default,
+            }
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+fn draw_form(frame: &mut ratatui::Frame<'_>, form: &SpawnForm) {
+    let chunks = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Vertical)
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Length(1),
+            Constraint::Length(1),
+            Constraint::Length(1),
+            Constraint::Length(1),
+            Constraint::Length(1),
+            Constraint::Min(0),
+        ])
+        .split(frame.area());
+
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::raw("  "),
+            Span::styled(
+                "spawn worker",
+                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+            ),
+        ])),
+        chunks[0],
+    );
+
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::raw("  "),
+            Span::styled("name: ", Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray)),
+            Span::styled(
+                &form.worker_name,
+                Style::default()
+                    .fg(Color::Cyan)
+                    .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+            ),
+        ])),
+        chunks[1],
+    );
+
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::raw("  "),
+            Span::styled("profile: ", Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray)),
+            Span::styled(
+                &form.selected_profile().label,
+                Style::default().fg(Color::Green),
+            ),
+            Span::styled(
+                "  (tab/down to change)",
+                Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
+            ),
+        ])),
+        chunks[2],
+    );
+
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(Span::styled(
+            "  enter spawn · left/right edit · esc cancel",
+            Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray),
+        ))),
+        chunks[3],
+    );
+
+    let (message, color) = form
+        .status
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|(message, kind)| {
+            let color = match kind {
+                StatusKind::Info => Color::DarkGray,
+                StatusKind::Progress => Color::Yellow,
+                StatusKind::Error => Color::Red,
+            };
+            (message.as_str(), color)
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(("", Color::Reset));
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::raw("  "),
+            Span::styled(message, Style::default().fg(color)),
+        ])),
+        chunks[4],
+    );
+
+    let prefix_width = "  name: ".chars().count() as u16;
+    let x = chunks[1]
+        .x
+        .saturating_add(prefix_width)
+        .saturating_add(form.cursor as u16)
+        .min(chunks[1].right().saturating_sub(1));
+    frame.set_cursor_position((x, chunks[1].y));
+}
+
+fn default_worker_name(workspace_root: &Path) -> String {
+    workspace_root
+        .file_name()
+        .and_then(|name| name.to_str())
+        .map(sanitise_default_name)
+        .filter(|name| !name.is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| FALLBACK_WORKER_NAME.to_owned())
+}
+
+fn sanitise_default_name(name: &str) -> String {
+    name.chars()
+        .map(|ch| if is_safe_worker_char(ch) { ch } else { '-' })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+fn is_safe_worker_char(ch: char) -> bool {
+    ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || matches!(ch, '-' | '_' | '.')
+}
+
+fn byte_index(input: &str, char_index: usize) -> usize {
+    input
+        .char_indices()
+        .nth(char_index)
+        .map_or(input.len(), |(idx, _)| idx)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use crossterm::event::{KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn choices() -> Vec<ProfileChoice> {
+        vec![
+            ProfileChoice {
+                selector: "builtin:default".to_owned(),
+                label: "builtin:default (default) — Default".to_owned(),
+                is_default: true,
+            },
+            ProfileChoice {
+                selector: "builtin:coder".to_owned(),
+                label: "builtin:coder — Coder".to_owned(),
+                is_default: false,
+            },
+        ]
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_form_preserves_old_spawn_layout_defaults() {
+        let form = SpawnForm::new(None, "yoi".to_owned(), choices());
+        assert_eq!(form.worker_name, "yoi");
+        assert_eq!(form.selected_profile().selector, "builtin:default");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tab_and_arrows_cycle_profiles() {
+        let mut form = SpawnForm::new(None, "yoi".to_owned(), choices());
+        assert_eq!(
+            form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Tab, KeyModifiers::NONE)),
+            SpawnAction::None
+        );
+        assert_eq!(form.selected_profile().selector, "builtin:coder");
+        form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Down, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(form.selected_profile().selector, "builtin:default");
+        form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Up, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(form.selected_profile().selector, "builtin:coder");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn name_input_uses_old_safe_character_policy() {
+        let mut form = SpawnForm::new(Some("worker".to_owned()), "yoi".to_owned(), choices());
+        form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('-'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('1'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('/'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(form.worker_name, "worker-1");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn enter_rejects_empty_name_and_escape_cancels() {
+        let mut form = SpawnForm::new(Some(String::new()), "yoi".to_owned(), choices());
+        assert_eq!(
+            form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE)),
+            SpawnAction::None
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            form.status.as_ref().map(|(message, _)| message.as_str()),
+            Some("worker name cannot be empty")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            form.apply_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Esc, KeyModifiers::NONE)),
+            SpawnAction::Cancel
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn renderer_preserves_legacy_inline_spawn_form() {
+        let backend = ratatui::backend::TestBackend::new(100, VIEWPORT_HEIGHT);
+        let mut terminal = ratatui::Terminal::new(backend).unwrap();
+        let form = SpawnForm::new(None, "yoi".to_owned(), choices());
+        terminal.draw(|frame| draw_form(frame, &form)).unwrap();
+        let buffer = terminal.backend().buffer();
+        let rendered = buffer
+            .content
+            .chunks(buffer.area.width as usize)
+            .map(|row| row.iter().map(|cell| cell.symbol()).collect::<String>())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("\n");
+
+        assert!(rendered.contains("spawn worker"));
+        assert!(rendered.contains("name: yoi"));
+        assert!(rendered.contains("profile: builtin:default (default) — Default"));
+        assert!(rendered.contains("enter spawn · left/right edit · esc cancel"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn builtin_discovery_produces_a_default_profile_choice() {
+        let registry = ProfileDiscovery::with_sources(None, None)
+            .discover()
+            .unwrap();
+        let choices = profile_choices(&registry);
+        let default = choices.iter().find(|choice| choice.is_default).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(default.selector, "builtin:default");
+        assert!(default.label.contains("(default)"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_worker_name_comes_from_sanitised_directory_basename() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            default_worker_name(Path::new("/home/hare/Project/yoi")),
+            "yoi"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            default_worker_name(Path::new("/home/hare/Project/my project")),
+            "my-project"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(default_worker_name(Path::new("/")), "worker");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn explicit_profile_bypasses_discovery_and_uses_directory_name() {
+        let selection = select(
+            Path::new("/home/hare/Project/yoi"),
+            None,
+            Some("builtin:coder".to_owned()),
+        )
+        .unwrap()
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(selection.worker_name, "yoi");
+        assert_eq!(selection.profile, "builtin:coder");
+    }
+}