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diff --git a/work-items/open/20260531-045034-spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand/item.md b/work-items/open/20260531-045034-spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand/item.md
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+---
+id: 20260531-045034-spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand
+slug: spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand
+title: CLI: spawn Pods through insomnia pod runtime
+status: open
+kind: task
+priority: P2
+labels: [cli, pod, client, nix]
+created_at: 2026-05-31T04:50:34Z
+updated_at: 2026-05-31T04:51:14Z
+assignee: null
+legacy_ticket: null
+---
+
+## Background
+
+Parent/umbrella ticket: `single-binary-insomnia-cli`.
+
+`insomnia-pod-subcommand-runtime` added `insomnia pod ...` as a Pod runtime entrypoint while keeping the old `insomnia-pod` binary as a temporary thin wrapper. Internal Pod spawning and restore paths still default to invoking `insomnia-pod` as an executable-only command.
+
+The next single-binary migration step is to make internal callers able to spawn Pod runtime processes via `program + prefix_args`, and then switch the default runtime command to the current `insomnia` executable with `pod` as the prefix argument.
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Introduce a typed Pod runtime command representation instead of shell-string parsing.
+  - Example shape: `{ program: PathBuf, prefix_args: Vec<OsString> }`.
+  - The default command from the `insomnia` binary should be `current_exe()` + `pod` prefix args.
+  - Preserve an explicit override mechanism for development/debugging, but do not parse arbitrary shell command strings.
+- Switch internal spawn/restore paths that currently call `insomnia-pod` to use the typed runtime command:
+  - TUI/create/restore paths in `client`/`tui` if applicable;
+  - `SpawnPod` child creation;
+  - `RestorePod` / discovery restore flows.
+- Preserve detached process behavior and the `INSOMNIA-READY` stderr handshake.
+- Preserve devshell/Nix behavior enough that local development still works.
+  - If `insomnia-pod` is still needed for devshell wrapping in this step, document exactly why and leave removal to the next ticket.
+- Keep `insomnia-pod` installed output/package removal out of this ticket unless the migration is already complete and validation is straightforward.
+- Do not rename the `tui` package/crate.
+- Do not merge Pod controller into the TUI process.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Removing `insomnia-pod` from Nix/package outputs as the primary goal. That is the next cleanup once runtime spawning no longer depends on it.
+- Changing Pod runtime flags or profile/manifest semantics.
+- Changing Pod protocol.
+- Large CLI UX redesign.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- Internal default Pod runtime spawn/restore commands use `insomnia pod ...` through a typed `program + prefix_args` representation.
+- `INSOMNIA_POD_COMMAND` or any equivalent override remains safe and documented, or is replaced by a typed override with clear behavior.
+- Existing Pod spawning/restore tests pass, with focused tests proving prefix args are included in the spawned command.
+- `insomnia pod --help` and existing `insomnia-pod --help` continue to work while the temporary wrapper remains.
+- `SpawnPod` and `RestorePod` behavior is unchanged from the user/tool perspective.
+- Follow-up for removing `insomnia-pod` packaging is recorded if not completed here.
+- `cargo fmt --check`, focused client/pod/tui tests, `cargo check -p client -p pod -p tui`, `./tickets.sh doctor`, and `git diff --check` pass.
diff --git a/work-items/open/20260531-045034-spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand/thread.md b/work-items/open/20260531-045034-spawn-through-insomnia-pod-subcommand/thread.md
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+<!-- event: create author: tickets.sh at: 2026-05-31T04:50:34Z -->
+
+## Created
+
+Created by tickets.sh create.
+
+---
+
+<!-- event: plan author: hare at: 2026-05-31T04:51:14Z -->
+
+## Plan
+
+Implementation plan:
+
+1. Find all internal `insomnia-pod` executable resolution paths (`client::spawn_pod`, `SpawnPod`, `RestorePod`/discovery, tests/dev helpers).
+2. Introduce a typed runtime command structure with `program` and `prefix_args`, avoiding shell-string parsing.
+3. Make the default runtime command for callers running from `insomnia` use `current_exe()` + `pod` prefix args.
+4. Preserve explicit override behavior for development/debugging; if the existing env var cannot safely support prefix args, keep it as executable-only and document that it bypasses the unified default.
+5. Update tests to assert prefix args are included and existing spawn/restore behavior is unchanged.
+6. Leave Nix/package removal of `insomnia-pod` to a follow-up unless this change proves complete and low-risk.
+
+
+---