diff --git a/agent-team/agent_team/status_page.py b/agent-team/agent_team/status_page.py
index 55c5c3f..4842949 100644
--- a/agent-team/agent_team/status_page.py
+++ b/agent-team/agent_team/status_page.py
@@ -27,13 +27,24 @@ Posture (read this before changing anything):
 * **Fail-safe.** A missing, locked, or unreadable DB renders a friendly
   "no data" page; the server never crashes on a bad read.
 
+The page is a live visual pipeline map: server-rendered inline SVG of the
+agent-team DAG (``INTAKE -> CLARIFY (human gate) -> PLAN <-> REVIEW ->
+[BUILD -> VERIFY -> DISPATCH] -> DONE``), with each stage coloured by live
+state and badged with a task count. Vanilla inline JS polls a JSON sidecar
+endpoint (``GET /api/state``) every few seconds with ``fetch()`` and updates
+the node states, counts, tooltips, and "last updated" clock *in place* — no
+full-page reload, so hover and scroll survive the refresh. A ``<noscript>``
+meta-refresh is the JS-disabled fallback. Everything (SVG + CSS + JS) is inline
+in the served document; nothing is fetched from a CDN, because the R720 VM is
+offline/LAN-only.
+
 Why stdlib ``http.server`` and not FastAPI (which is already a dep): the page is
-a single read-only GET that returns server-rendered HTML on a 10s meta-refresh.
-FastAPI/uvicorn buys nothing here (no JSON contract, no auth, no async I/O) and
-would couple this LAN dashboard to the optional WS1 HTTP-API dependency set.
-stdlib ``http.server`` keeps it zero-new-deps and importable anywhere the
-``agent_team`` package is, which also keeps :func:`render_html` trivially
-unit-testable without binding a socket.
+two read-only GETs (the HTML map and its JSON sidecar). FastAPI/uvicorn buys
+nothing here (no auth, no async I/O) and would couple this LAN dashboard to the
+optional WS1 HTTP-API dependency set. stdlib ``http.server`` keeps it
+zero-new-deps and importable anywhere the ``agent_team`` package is, which also
+keeps :func:`render_html` and :func:`snapshot_to_dict` trivially unit-testable
+without binding a socket.
 
 Config (all env, with defaults):
 
@@ -47,10 +58,11 @@ Config (all env, with defaults):
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import html
+import json
 import os
 import sqlite3
 from collections import Counter
-from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass, field
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, ThreadingHTTPServer
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -64,15 +76,73 @@ _DEFAULT_DB = _PACKAGE_DIR.parent / "state" / "agent_team.sqlite"
 _DEFAULT_HOST = "0.0.0.0"
 _DEFAULT_PORT = 8770
 
-# How long the browser waits before re-requesting (seconds).
+# <noscript> fallback / hard cap: how long the browser waits before a full
+# reload if JS is disabled. The live JS poller (below) refreshes far more often
+# without reloading, so this only matters for the no-JS path.
 _REFRESH_SECONDS = 10
 
+# How often the inline JS poller re-fetches /api/state (milliseconds). ~4s keeps
+# the map feeling live without hammering a read-only SQLite reader.
+_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 4000
+
 # Phases we treat as "still progressing" for the queue summary. PARKED/DONE/
 # FAILED are terminal-ish; everything else is in flight.
 _ACTIVE_STATUSES = {"active", "waiting_human"}
 _PARKED_STATUSES = {"parked"}
 
 
+# --- Pipeline map model -------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# The agent-team is one durable LangGraph DAG. These STAGES are the canonical
+# flow we draw, in order, each carrying the model "agent"/role that owns it (per
+# the design: CLARIFY + PLAN = Claude on subscription; REVIEW = GPT-4.1
+# cross_reviewer; SCAN = Gemini scanner; BUILD = DeepSeek fast_coder; the HUMAN
+# GATE = the Slack owner). ``phases`` lists the Phase enum value(s) that map a
+# live task onto that stage; tasks are grouped onto stages by ``current_phase``.
+#
+# VERIFY/DISPATCH are gated/inert in the current deploy (P3 not live) but are
+# drawn so the operator sees the full intended pipeline. SCAN is a role node
+# (Gemini), not a distinct LangGraph phase, so no task ever lands on it — it
+# renders as a labelled-but-idle capability the BUILD/VERIFY stages can call.
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class Stage:
+    """One node in the rendered pipeline map.
+
+    ``key`` is a stable id used by the SVG + JS. ``phases`` are the Phase enum
+    *values* whose tasks belong to this stage (empty for pure role nodes like
+    the human gate / scan that no ``current_phase`` ever names).
+    """
+
+    key: str
+    label: str
+    agent: str  # model / role that owns the stage
+    phases: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+    gated: bool = False  # drawn but inert in the current deploy
+    role_node: bool = False  # capability, not a Phase tasks land on
+
+
+# Left-to-right pipeline order. Keep in sync with task_model.Phase.
+STAGES: tuple[Stage, ...] = (
+    Stage("intake", "Intake", "coordinator", phases=("intake",)),
+    Stage("clarify", "Clarify", "Claude (sub)", phases=("clarify",)),
+    Stage("gate", "Human Gate", "Slack owner", role_node=True),
+    Stage("plan", "Plan", "Claude (sub)", phases=("plan",)),
+    Stage("review", "Review", "GPT-4.1 (cross)", phases=("review",)),
+    Stage("scan", "Scan", "Gemini", role_node=True),
+    Stage("build", "Build", "DeepSeek (fast)", phases=("build",), gated=True),
+    Stage("verify", "Verify", "Claude (sub)", phases=("verify",), gated=True),
+    Stage("dispatch", "Dispatch", "GitHub PR", gated=True, role_node=True),
+    Stage("done", "Done", "—", phases=("done",)),
+)
+
+# Phase value -> stage key, derived once from STAGES.
+_PHASE_TO_STAGE: dict[str, str] = {
+    phase: stage.key for stage in STAGES for phase in stage.phases
+}
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class TaskView:
     """A read-only, render-ready view of one pipeline task.
@@ -125,6 +195,35 @@ class Snapshot:
     def progressing_tasks(self) -> list[TaskView]:
         return [t for t in self.tasks if not t.waiting]
 
+    def tasks_for_stage(self, stage_key: str) -> list[TaskView]:
+        """Tasks whose ``current_phase`` maps onto ``stage_key``.
+
+        Role nodes (human gate / scan / dispatch) own no phase, so they get no
+        tasks here even when work is "logically" at the gate — a CLARIFY task
+        awaiting an answer stays on the CLARIFY node and is flagged
+        awaiting-human there, which is where the operator looks.
+        """
+        return [
+            t for t in self.tasks if _PHASE_TO_STAGE.get(t.current_phase) == stage_key
+        ]
+
+    def stage_state(self, stage: Stage) -> str:
+        """Live state for a stage node: awaiting_human > active > parked > idle.
+
+        ``awaiting_human`` wins so a blocked stage reads as blocked at a glance.
+        Role/gated nodes with no tasks fall through to ``idle``.
+        """
+        members = self.tasks_for_stage(stage.key)
+        if not members:
+            return "idle"
+        if any(t.waiting for t in members):
+            return "awaiting_human"
+        if any(t.status in _PARKED_STATUSES for t in members):
+            return "parked"
+        if any(t.status in _ACTIVE_STATUSES for t in members):
+            return "active"
+        return "idle"
+
 
 def _utc_now_iso() -> str:
     """Current UTC time as a stable, human-readable string."""
@@ -244,6 +343,99 @@ def build_snapshot(db_path: Path | str | None = None) -> Snapshot:
     )
 
 
+def snapshot_to_dict(snapshot: Snapshot) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Serialize a :class:`Snapshot` into the ``/api/state`` JSON payload.
+
+    Pure (no I/O) and self-contained so it is unit-testable without a socket.
+    The shape is the contract the inline JS poller depends on:
+
+    * ``ok`` / ``error`` / ``generated_at`` — header + clock + no-data handling.
+    * ``stages`` — one entry per pipeline node in draw order, each with its live
+      ``state``, a task ``count``, and the member ``tasks`` (for the tooltip).
+    * ``tasks`` / ``waiting`` / ``question_counts`` / ``summary`` / ``budget`` —
+      the detail table + count cards the page also renders.
+
+    Task descriptions are operator input; they are emitted as raw strings here
+    and the *consumer* (the JS, via ``textContent``/JSON parsing) is responsible
+    for not interpreting them as markup. ``json.dumps`` itself escapes the
+    JSON-string context, and the renderer additionally hardens the inlined seed
+    against ``</script>`` / HTML-comment breakouts (see ``_json_for_script``).
+    """
+    if not snapshot.ok:
+        return {
+            "ok": False,
+            "error": snapshot.error or "ledger unavailable",
+            "generated_at": snapshot.generated_at,
+            "db_path": snapshot.db_path,
+            "stages": [_stage_payload(s, []) for s in STAGES],
+            "tasks": [],
+            "waiting": [],
+            "question_counts": {},
+            "summary": {
+                "active": 0,
+                "parked": 0,
+                "waiting": 0,
+                "open_questions": 0,
+                "total": 0,
+            },
+            "budget": {"available": False},
+        }
+
+    stages = [
+        _stage_payload(s, snapshot.tasks_for_stage(s.key), snapshot.stage_state(s))
+        for s in STAGES
+    ]
+    qc = snapshot.question_counts
+    return {
+        "ok": True,
+        "error": None,
+        "generated_at": snapshot.generated_at,
+        "db_path": snapshot.db_path,
+        "stages": stages,
+        "tasks": [_task_payload(t) for t in snapshot.tasks],
+        "waiting": [_task_payload(t) for t in snapshot.waiting_tasks],
+        "question_counts": qc,
+        "summary": {
+            "active": snapshot.active_count,
+            "parked": snapshot.parked_count,
+            "waiting": len(snapshot.waiting_tasks),
+            "open_questions": int(qc.get("open", 0)),
+            "total": len(snapshot.tasks),
+        },
+        "budget": {
+            "available": snapshot.budget_available,
+            "total_usd": snapshot.spend_total_usd,
+            "recent": snapshot.recent_spend,
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _task_payload(t: TaskView) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """JSON-safe view of one task (the tooltip + detail-table source)."""
+    return {
+        "thread_id": t.thread_id,
+        "short_id": t.short_id,
+        "task": t.task,
+        "current_phase": t.current_phase,
+        "status": t.status,
+        "waiting": t.waiting,
+        "waiting_since": t.waiting_since,
+    }
+
+
+def _stage_payload(
+    stage: Stage,
+    members: list[TaskView],
+    state: str | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """JSON-safe view of one pipeline stage node."""
+    payload = asdict(stage)
+    payload["state"] = state if state is not None else "idle"
+    payload["count"] = len(members)
+    payload["tasks"] = [_task_payload(t) for t in members]
+    return payload
+
+
 def _resolve_db_path() -> Path:
     """Resolve the ledger path from ``AGENT_TEAM_DB`` or the package default."""
     env = os.environ.get("AGENT_TEAM_DB")
@@ -436,6 +628,73 @@ td.mono, .mono { font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, monospace; }
 .warn { background: #3a1f16; border: 1px solid #5a3322; color: #f3c79e;
   padding: 1rem; border-radius: 8px; }
 footer { color: #6b7385; font-size: .78rem; margin-top: 2rem; }
+
+/* --- Pipeline map ------------------------------------------------------- */
+.map-wrap {
+  background: #12151c; border: 1px solid #232a36; border-radius: 10px;
+  padding: 1rem; overflow-x: auto; position: relative;
+}
+svg.map { display: block; max-width: 100%; height: auto; }
+/* Stage node states. Fill = the box; stroke = its border accent. */
+.node rect.box { fill: #1a1e26; stroke: #2f3645; stroke-width: 1.5;
+  transition: fill .25s, stroke .25s; rx: 9; }
+.node text { fill: #e6e6e6; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600;
+  text-anchor: middle; pointer-events: none; }
+.node text.agent { fill: #8a93a6; font-size: 10.5px; font-weight: 500; }
+.node text.gated-tag { fill: #6b7385; font-size: 9px; font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: .06em; }
+.node .count { font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; fill: #0f1115; }
+.node circle.badge { display: none; }
+.node.has-tasks circle.badge { display: inline; }
+/* state -> accent. idle is the default rect above. */
+.node.active rect.box       { fill: #163a2b; stroke: #2f8f5e; }
+.node.active circle.badge   { fill: #6ee7a8; }
+.node.awaiting_human rect.box     { fill: #3a3216; stroke: #b89a2e; }
+.node.awaiting_human circle.badge { fill: #f5d76e; }
+.node.parked rect.box       { fill: #3a1f16; stroke: #a85f33; }
+.node.parked circle.badge   { fill: #f3a36e; }
+.node.gated rect.box { stroke-dasharray: 5 4; opacity: .82; }
+.node.role rect.box  { fill: #181c28; stroke-dasharray: 2 3; }
+.node:focus { outline: none; }
+.node:focus rect.box, .node:hover rect.box { stroke-width: 2.5; }
+.edge { stroke: #3b4456; stroke-width: 1.6; fill: none;
+  marker-end: url(#arrow); }
+.edge.loop { stroke: #4a5266; stroke-dasharray: 4 4; }
+.edge-label { fill: #6b7385; font-size: 9.5px; text-anchor: middle; }
+/* Legend */
+.legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 1rem; margin: .75rem 0 0;
+  font-size: .8rem; color: #9aa3b4; align-items: center; }
+.legend .key { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: .35rem; }
+.legend .swatch { width: 14px; height: 14px; border-radius: 4px;
+  border: 1px solid #2f3645; display: inline-block; }
+.legend .swatch.active { background: #163a2b; border-color: #2f8f5e; }
+.legend .swatch.awaiting_human { background: #3a3216; border-color: #b89a2e; }
+.legend .swatch.parked { background: #3a1f16; border-color: #a85f33; }
+.legend .swatch.idle { background: #1a1e26; }
+/* Tooltip (one node, follows hover/focus). */
+#tip {
+  position: fixed; z-index: 10; max-width: 24rem; pointer-events: none;
+  background: #0b0d12; border: 1px solid #36405a; border-radius: 8px;
+  padding: .55rem .7rem; font-size: .8rem; color: #d6dcea;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0,0,0,.45); display: none; line-height: 1.35;
+}
+#tip.show { display: block; }
+#tip h4 { margin: 0 0 .35rem; font-size: .82rem; color: #9fb4d6; }
+#tip .agent-line { color: #8a93a6; font-size: .74rem; margin-bottom: .35rem; }
+#tip ul { margin: .2rem 0 0; padding-left: 0; list-style: none; }
+#tip li { margin: .3rem 0; border-top: 1px solid #20283a; padding-top: .3rem; }
+#tip li:first-child { border-top: 0; padding-top: 0; }
+#tip .tid { font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, monospace;
+  color: #7fb3f5; }
+#tip .empty-tip { color: #6b7385; font-style: italic; }
+#tip .age { color: #8a93a6; }
+.live-dot { width: .55rem; height: .55rem; border-radius: 50%;
+  background: #6ee7a8; display: inline-block; margin-right: .3rem;
+  vertical-align: middle; }
+.live-dot.stale { background: #f3a36e; }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .node rect.box, .edge { transition: none; }
+}
 """
 
 
@@ -518,49 +777,362 @@ def _render_budget(snapshot: Snapshot) -> str:
     )
 
 
+# --- Inline SVG pipeline map (hand-rolled, no CDN, no D3). -------------------
+#
+# Layout: a serpentine of two rows of five stage nodes, flowing row 1 L->R then
+# row 2 L->R (with a connector down the right side), so the whole DAG reads in
+# one screen. Loop-backs (CLARIFY <-> human gate, PLAN <-> REVIEW) are drawn as
+# dashed curved edges so the operator can see the gating cycles.
+
+_NODE_W = 132
+_NODE_H = 66
+_COL_GAP = 56
+_ROW_GAP = 86
+_MARGIN = 24
+_COLS = 5
+
+
+def _node_xy(index: int) -> tuple[int, int]:
+    """Top-left (x, y) of the stage box at ``index`` in the serpentine grid."""
+    row, col = divmod(index, _COLS)
+    x = _MARGIN + col * (_NODE_W + _COL_GAP)
+    y = _MARGIN + row * (_NODE_H + _ROW_GAP)
+    return x, y
+
+
+def _render_node(index: int, stage: Stage, state: str, count: int) -> str:
+    """One stage box: state class, label, agent role, gated tag, count badge."""
+    x, y = _node_xy(index)
+    classes = ["node", _esc(state)]
+    if stage.gated:
+        classes.append("gated")
+    if stage.role_node:
+        classes.append("role")
+    if count > 0:
+        classes.append("has-tasks")
+    cls = " ".join(classes)
+    cx, cy = x + _NODE_W, y  # badge anchor: top-right corner
+    label_x = x + _NODE_W // 2
+    gated_tag = (
+        f'<text class="gated-tag" x="{label_x}" y="{y + _NODE_H - 8}">GATED</text>'
+        if stage.gated
+        else ""
+    )
+    badge = (
+        f'<circle class="badge" cx="{cx}" cy="{cy}" r="11"></circle>'
+        f'<text class="count" x="{cx}" y="{cy + 4}">{count}</text>'
+    )
+    return (
+        f'<g class="{cls}" tabindex="0" role="button" '
+        f'data-stage="{_esc(stage.key)}" '
+        f'aria-label="{_esc(stage.label)} stage, {_esc(state)}, '
+        f'{count} task(s)">'
+        f'<rect class="box" x="{x}" y="{y}" width="{_NODE_W}" '
+        f'height="{_NODE_H}" rx="9"></rect>'
+        f'<text x="{label_x}" y="{y + 27}">{_esc(stage.label)}</text>'
+        f'<text class="agent" x="{label_x}" y="{y + 45}">'
+        f"{_esc(stage.agent)}</text>"
+        f"{gated_tag}{badge}</g>"
+    )
+
+
+def _straight_edge(a: int, b: int) -> str:
+    """Forward edge from node ``a`` to node ``b`` (adjacent in the spine)."""
+    ax, ay = _node_xy(a)
+    bx, by = _node_xy(b)
+    a_row = a // _COLS
+    b_row = b // _COLS
+    if a_row == b_row:
+        # Same row: right edge of a -> left edge of b.
+        x1, y1 = ax + _NODE_W, ay + _NODE_H // 2
+        x2, y2 = bx, by + _NODE_H // 2
+        mx = (x1 + x2) / 2
+        return (
+            f'<path class="edge" d="M{x1},{y1} C{mx},{y1} {mx},{y2} {x2},{y2}"></path>'
+        )
+    # Row wrap: drop from bottom of a, curve down to top of b.
+    x1, y1 = ax + _NODE_W // 2, ay + _NODE_H
+    x2, y2 = bx + _NODE_W // 2, by
+    my = (y1 + y2) / 2
+    return f'<path class="edge" d="M{x1},{y1} C{x1},{my} {x2},{my} {x2},{y2}"></path>'
+
+
+def _loop_edge(a: int, b: int, label: str) -> str:
+    """Dashed loop-back edge a<->b drawn as an arc above the two same-row nodes."""
+    ax, ay = _node_xy(a)
+    bx, _ = _node_xy(b)
+    # Arc over the top of both boxes (a is to the right of b on the spine).
+    x1, y1 = ax + _NODE_W // 2, ay
+    x2, y2 = bx + _NODE_W // 2, ay
+    lift = 30
+    mid_x = (x1 + x2) / 2
+    path = (
+        f'<path class="edge loop" d="M{x1},{y1} '
+        f'C{x1},{y1 - lift} {x2},{y2 - lift} {x2},{y2}"></path>'
+    )
+    lbl = (
+        f'<text class="edge-label" x="{mid_x}" y="{y1 - lift + 2}">{_esc(label)}</text>'
+    )
+    return path + lbl
+
+
+def _render_map_svg(snapshot: Snapshot) -> str:
+    """Hand-rolled inline SVG of the agent-team DAG, with live per-stage state.
+
+    Deterministic geometry (no measurement), all inline — no external assets.
+    The JS poller re-paints node classes/counts in place; this server render is
+    the first paint and the no-JS view.
+    """
+    rows = (len(STAGES) + _COLS - 1) // _COLS
+    width = _MARGIN * 2 + _COLS * _NODE_W + (_COLS - 1) * _COL_GAP
+    height = _MARGIN * 2 + rows * _NODE_H + (rows - 1) * _ROW_GAP
+
+    parts: list[str] = []
+    # Forward spine: 0->1->...->n following serpentine order.
+    for i in range(len(STAGES) - 1):
+        parts.append(_straight_edge(i, i + 1))
+    # Loop-backs by stage key (robust to index shifts).
+    idx = {s.key: i for i, s in enumerate(STAGES)}
+    if "clarify" in idx and "gate" in idx:
+        parts.append(_loop_edge(idx["gate"], idx["clarify"], "answer ↺"))
+    if "plan" in idx and "review" in idx:
+        parts.append(_loop_edge(idx["review"], idx["plan"], "revise ↺"))
+
+    for i, stage in enumerate(STAGES):
+        members = snapshot.tasks_for_stage(stage.key)
+        state = snapshot.stage_state(stage)
+        parts.append(_render_node(i, stage, state, len(members)))
+
+    arrow = (
+        '<defs><marker id="arrow" viewBox="0 0 10 10" refX="9" refY="5" '
+        'markerWidth="7" markerHeight="7" orient="auto-start-reverse">'
+        '<path d="M0,0 L10,5 L0,10 z" fill="#3b4456"></path></marker></defs>'
+    )
+    return (
+        f'<svg class="map" viewBox="0 0 {width} {height}" '
+        f'width="{width}" height="{height}" role="img" '
+        'aria-label="agent-team pipeline map">'
+        f"{arrow}{''.join(parts)}</svg>"
+    )
+
+
+def _render_legend() -> str:
+    return (
+        '<div class="legend">'
+        '<span class="key"><span class="swatch idle"></span>idle</span>'
+        '<span class="key"><span class="swatch active"></span>active</span>'
+        '<span class="key"><span class="swatch awaiting_human"></span>'
+        "awaiting human</span>"
+        '<span class="key"><span class="swatch parked"></span>parked</span>'
+        '<span class="key" style="color:#6b7385">'
+        "dashed border = gated / not-yet-live stage</span>"
+        "</div>"
+    )
+
+
+def _json_for_script(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """JSON safe to inline inside a ``<script>`` element.
+
+    ``json.dumps`` handles the JSON-string escaping. We then escape ``<`` and
+    ``>`` to their ``\\uXXXX`` JSON escapes, which is the standard hardening for
+    JSON embedded in HTML: it makes it impossible for any value (e.g. a task
+    description containing ``</script>`` or ``<script>``) to introduce a tag,
+    comment, or CDATA breakout, while remaining byte-for-byte parseable by
+    ``JSON.parse``. ``ensure_ascii=True`` additionally escapes the unicode line
+    separators that would otherwise terminate a JS string. Descriptions still
+    only ever reach the DOM via ``textContent``, never ``innerHTML``.
+    """
+    raw = json.dumps(payload, ensure_ascii=True)
+    return raw.replace("<", "\\u003c").replace(">", "\\u003e")
+
+
+def _poller_script(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Inline vanilla-JS poller: fetch /api/state, repaint the map in place.
+
+    No libraries, no CDN. Updates node state classes + count badges, the count
+    cards, the "last updated" clock, and the tooltip dataset — without reloading
+    the page, so hover/scroll/focus survive. Descriptions reach the DOM only via
+    ``textContent`` (never innerHTML), so they cannot inject markup.
+    """
+    seed = _json_for_script(payload)
+    return (
+        "<script>(function(){"
+        "var POLL=" + str(_POLL_INTERVAL_MS) + ";"
+        "var state=" + seed + ";"
+        "var tip=document.getElementById('tip');"
+        "var clock=document.getElementById('clock');"
+        "var dot=document.getElementById('livedot');"
+        # ---- helpers ----
+        "function age(iso){if(!iso)return '';"
+        "var t=Date.parse(iso);if(isNaN(t))return '';"
+        "var s=Math.max(0,(Date.now()-t)/1000);"
+        "if(s<90)return Math.round(s)+'s ago';"
+        "if(s<5400)return Math.round(s/60)+'m ago';"
+        "if(s<129600)return Math.round(s/3600)+'h ago';"
+        "return Math.round(s/86400)+'d ago';}"
+        "function byKey(k){var s=state.stages||[];"
+        "for(var i=0;i<s.length;i++){if(s[i].key===k)return s[i];}return null;}"
+        "function setNum(id,v){var e=document.getElementById(id);"
+        "if(e)e.textContent=String(v==null?0:v);}"
+        # ---- repaint the SVG nodes + cards from `state` ----
+        "function paint(){"
+        "var nodes=document.querySelectorAll('g.node[data-stage]');"
+        "for(var i=0;i<nodes.length;i++){var g=nodes[i];"
+        "var st=byKey(g.getAttribute('data-stage'));if(!st)continue;"
+        "['idle','active','awaiting_human','parked','has-tasks']"
+        ".forEach(function(c){g.classList.remove(c);});"
+        "g.classList.add(st.state||'idle');"
+        "if((st.count||0)>0)g.classList.add('has-tasks');"
+        "var cnt=g.querySelector('text.count');"
+        "if(cnt)cnt.textContent=String(st.count||0);"
+        "g.setAttribute('aria-label',(st.label||g.getAttribute('data-stage'))"
+        "+' stage, '+(st.state||'idle')+', '+(st.count||0)+' task(s)');}"
+        "var sm=state.summary||{};"
+        "setNum('card-active',sm.active);setNum('card-parked',sm.parked);"
+        "setNum('card-waiting',sm.waiting);setNum('card-open',sm.open_questions);"
+        "setNum('card-total',sm.total);}"
+        # ---- tooltip ----
+        "function fillTip(st){"
+        "var h=document.createElement('h4');h.textContent=(st.label||'')+' — '"
+        "+(st.state||'idle').replace('_',' ');"
+        "var a=document.createElement('div');a.className='agent-line';"
+        "a.textContent='agent: '+(st.agent||'—');"
+        "tip.innerHTML='';tip.appendChild(h);tip.appendChild(a);"
+        "var tasks=st.tasks||[];"
+        "if(!tasks.length){var e=document.createElement('div');"
+        "e.className='empty-tip';"
+        "e.textContent=(st.gated?'gated / not yet live — ':'')+'no tasks here';"
+        "tip.appendChild(e);return;}"
+        "var ul=document.createElement('ul');"
+        "for(var i=0;i<tasks.length;i++){var t=tasks[i];"
+        "var li=document.createElement('li');"
+        "var idline=document.createElement('div');"
+        "var sp=document.createElement('span');sp.className='tid';"
+        "sp.textContent=t.short_id||t.thread_id;"
+        "idline.appendChild(sp);"
+        "idline.appendChild(document.createTextNode(' · '+(t.status||'')));"
+        "li.appendChild(idline);"
+        "var d=document.createElement('div');d.textContent=t.task||'(no description)';"
+        "li.appendChild(d);"
+        "var when=t.waiting?t.waiting_since:null;"
+        "if(when){var ag=document.createElement('div');ag.className='age';"
+        "ag.textContent='waiting since '+when+(age(when)?' ('+age(when)+')':'');"
+        "li.appendChild(ag);}"
+        "ul.appendChild(li);}"
+        "tip.appendChild(ul);}"
+        "function showTip(key,ev){var st=byKey(key);if(!st)return;"
+        "fillTip(st);tip.classList.add('show');moveTip(ev);}"
+        "function moveTip(ev){if(!ev)return;var pad=14;"
+        "var x=ev.clientX+pad,y=ev.clientY+pad;"
+        "var r=tip.getBoundingClientRect();"
+        "if(x+r.width>window.innerWidth)x=ev.clientX-r.width-pad;"
+        "if(y+r.height>window.innerHeight)y=ev.clientY-r.height-pad;"
+        "tip.style.left=x+'px';tip.style.top=y+'px';}"
+        "function hideTip(){tip.classList.remove('show');}"
+        # ---- wire node hover/focus ----
+        "function wire(){var nodes=document.querySelectorAll('g.node[data-stage]');"
+        "for(var i=0;i<nodes.length;i++){(function(g){"
+        "var k=g.getAttribute('data-stage');"
+        "g.addEventListener('mouseenter',function(e){showTip(k,e);});"
+        "g.addEventListener('mousemove',function(e){moveTip(e);});"
+        "g.addEventListener('mouseleave',hideTip);"
+        "g.addEventListener('focus',function(){var st=byKey(k);if(st){"
+        "fillTip(st);var b=g.getBoundingClientRect();tip.classList.add('show');"
+        "tip.style.left=(b.left)+'px';tip.style.top=(b.bottom+8)+'px';}});"
+        "g.addEventListener('blur',hideTip);"
+        "})(nodes[i]);}}"
+        # ---- clock ----
+        "function setClock(){if(clock)clock.textContent=state.generated_at||'';"
+        "if(dot){dot.classList.remove('stale');}}"
+        # ---- poll ----
+        "function apply(s){state=s;paint();setClock();}"
+        "function poll(){fetch('/api/state',{cache:'no-store'})"
+        ".then(function(r){return r.json();})"
+        ".then(function(s){apply(s);})"
+        ".catch(function(){if(dot)dot.classList.add('stale');});}"
+        # ---- init ----
+        "paint();wire();setClock();"
+        "setInterval(poll,POLL);"
+        "})();</script>"
+    )
+
+
 def render_html(snapshot: Snapshot) -> str:
     """Render a :class:`Snapshot` to a complete, self-contained HTML document.
 
     Pure function: no I/O, no DB, no socket — unit-testable against a fake
-    snapshot. Inline CSS only and a ``<meta http-equiv="refresh">`` so the page
-    works fully offline (no external CDN) and auto-refreshes.
+    snapshot. Inline CSS + inline SVG map + inline JS poller only, plus a
+    ``<noscript>`` meta-refresh fallback, so the page works fully offline (no
+    external CDN) and updates live without a full reload.
     """
+    payload = snapshot_to_dict(snapshot)
     head = (
         '<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8">'
         '<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">'
+        # No-JS fallback: full reload. The inline poller refreshes live without
+        # reloading, so this only fires when JS is disabled.
+        "<noscript>"
         f'<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="{_REFRESH_SECONDS}">'
+        "</noscript>"
         "<title>agent-team status</title>"
         f"<style>{_CSS}</style></head><body>"
     )
     header = (
         "<h1>Sea Haven agent-team &mdash; coordinator status</h1>"
-        f'<div class="meta">Last refresh {_esc(snapshot.generated_at)} '
-        f"&middot; auto-refresh {_REFRESH_SECONDS}s &middot; "
+        '<div class="meta"><span class="live-dot" id="livedot"></span>'
+        'last updated <span class="mono" id="clock">'
+        f"{_esc(snapshot.generated_at)}</span> &middot; live "
+        f"(polls /api/state every {_POLL_INTERVAL_MS // 1000}s) &middot; "
         f'<span class="mono">{_esc(snapshot.db_path)}</span> &middot; '
         "read-only, LAN/VPN-only</div>"
     )
+    tooltip = '<div id="tip" role="tooltip"></div>'
+
+    # The map + tooltip + poller render on every path (including no-data) so the
+    # page goes live the moment the coordinator produces state, without a reload.
+    map_section = (
+        "<h2>Pipeline map</h2>"
+        '<div class="map-wrap">'
+        + _render_map_svg(snapshot)
+        + "</div>"
+        + _render_legend()
+    )
 
     if not snapshot.ok:
-        body = (
+        warn = (
             '<div class="warn"><strong>No data.</strong><br>'
             f"{_esc(snapshot.error or 'ledger unavailable')}<br>"
             "The dashboard is read-only and waits for the coordinator to "
-            "produce state.</div>"
+            "produce state. The map will populate live once it does.</div>"
+        )
+        return (
+            head
+            + header
+            + tooltip
+            + map_section
+            + warn
+            + _footer()
+            + _poller_script(payload)
+            + "</body></html>"
         )
-        return head + header + body + _footer() + "</body></html>"
 
     qc = snapshot.question_counts
     cards = (
         '<div class="cards">'
-        f'<div class="card"><div class="num">{snapshot.active_count}</div>'
+        f'<div class="card"><div class="num" id="card-active">'
+        f"{snapshot.active_count}</div>"
         '<div class="lbl">Active</div></div>'
-        f'<div class="card"><div class="num">{snapshot.parked_count}</div>'
+        f'<div class="card"><div class="num" id="card-parked">'
+        f"{snapshot.parked_count}</div>"
         '<div class="lbl">Parked</div></div>'
-        f'<div class="card"><div class="num">{len(snapshot.waiting_tasks)}</div>'
+        f'<div class="card"><div class="num" id="card-waiting">'
+        f"{len(snapshot.waiting_tasks)}</div>"
         '<div class="lbl">Waiting (gate)</div></div>'
-        f'<div class="card"><div class="num">{qc.get("open", 0)}</div>'
+        f'<div class="card"><div class="num" id="card-open">'
+        f"{qc.get('open', 0)}</div>"
         '<div class="lbl">Open questions</div></div>'
-        f'<div class="card"><div class="num">{len(snapshot.tasks)}</div>'
+        f'<div class="card"><div class="num" id="card-total">'
+        f"{len(snapshot.tasks)}</div>"
         '<div class="lbl">Total tasks</div></div>'
         "</div>"
     )
@@ -582,11 +1154,14 @@ def render_html(snapshot: Snapshot) -> str:
     return (
         head
         + header
+        + tooltip
         + cards
+        + map_section
         + waiting_section
         + tasks_section
         + budget_section
         + _footer()
+        + _poller_script(payload)
         + "</body></html>"
     )
 
@@ -608,13 +1183,51 @@ def _make_handler(db_path: Path) -> type[BaseHTTPRequestHandler]:
     class _StatusHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         server_version = "AgentTeamStatus/1.0"
 
+        # Strip any query string so "/api/state?ts=123" (a cache-buster the JS
+        # may append) still routes. Read-only: only GET, only these two routes.
+        def _route(self) -> str:
+            return self.path.split("?", 1)[0]
+
         def do_GET(self) -> None:  # noqa: N802 (BaseHTTPRequestHandler API)
-            # Read-only: every path serves the dashboard. Favicon gets a 204 so
-            # browsers stop logging 404s; there are no other routes.
-            if self.path == "/favicon.ico":
+            route = self._route()
+            # Favicon gets a 204 so browsers stop logging 404s.
+            if route == "/favicon.ico":
                 self.send_response(204)
                 self.end_headers()
                 return
+            if route == "/api/state":
+                self._serve_json()
+                return
+            # Every other path serves the dashboard HTML.
+            self._serve_html()
+
+        def _serve_json(self) -> None:
+            try:
+                payload = snapshot_to_dict(build_snapshot(db_path))
+            except Exception as exc:  # last-ditch: never 500 the sidecar
+                payload = {
+                    "ok": False,
+                    "error": f"snapshot error: {exc}",
+                    "generated_at": _utc_now_iso(),
+                    "db_path": str(db_path),
+                    "stages": [],
+                    "tasks": [],
+                    "waiting": [],
+                    "question_counts": {},
+                    "summary": {},
+                    "budget": {"available": False},
+                }
+            body = json.dumps(payload).encode("utf-8")
+            self.send_response(200)
+            self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+            self.send_header("Content-Length", str(len(body)))
+            self.send_header("X-Content-Type-Options", "nosniff")
+            self.send_header("Referrer-Policy", "no-referrer")
+            self.send_header("Cache-Control", "no-store")
+            self.end_headers()
+            self.wfile.write(body)
+
+        def _serve_html(self) -> None:
             try:
                 snapshot = build_snapshot(db_path)
                 page = render_html(snapshot)