diff --git a/docs/pr-1530/01-full.png b/docs/pr-1530/01-full.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..032098a0a
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/pr-1530/01-full.png differ
diff --git a/docs/pr-1530/02-small.png b/docs/pr-1530/02-small.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7221c0d76
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/pr-1530/02-small.png differ
diff --git a/docs/pr-1530/03-min.png b/docs/pr-1530/03-min.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e93052a9
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/pr-1530/03-min.png differ
diff --git a/docs/pr-1530/04-unhealthy.png b/docs/pr-1530/04-unhealthy.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2d62e88be
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/pr-1530/04-unhealthy.png differ
diff --git a/scripts/preview-dashboard.ts b/scripts/preview-dashboard.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5c1d0dde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/preview-dashboard.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+/**
+ * Visual preview of the auto-mode dashboard widget.
+ * Run: npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts [width] [--no-milestone] [--narrow] [--unhealthy]
+ *
+ * Renders the two-column layout with mock data so you can see
+ * exactly how it looks at any terminal width.
+ *
+ * Examples:
+ *   npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts              # default 120 cols, with milestone
+ *   npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts 80            # narrow single-column
+ *   npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts --no-milestone # compact no-milestone view
+ *   npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts --unhealthy   # yellow/red health states
+ *   npx tsx scripts/preview-dashboard.ts --narrow      # force 80 cols
+ */
+
+import { truncateToWidth, visibleWidth } from "@gsd/pi-tui";
+import { makeUI, GLYPH, INDENT } from "../src/resources/extensions/shared/mod.js";
+
+// ── Minimal ANSI color theme (no Theme class dependency) ────────────────
+
+const COLORS: Record<string, string> = {
+  accent:  "\x1b[36m",   // cyan
+  dim:     "\x1b[2m",    // dim
+  text:    "\x1b[37m",   // white
+  success: "\x1b[32m",   // green
+  error:   "\x1b[31m",   // red
+  warning: "\x1b[33m",   // yellow
+  muted:   "\x1b[90m",   // gray
+};
+const RESET_FG = "\x1b[22m\x1b[39m";
+
+const theme = {
+  fg(color: string, text: string): string {
+    const ansi = COLORS[color] ?? COLORS.text;
+    return `${ansi}${text}${RESET_FG}`;
+  },
+  bold(text: string): string {
+    return `\x1b[1m${text}\x1b[22m`;
+  },
+};
+
+// ── CLI args ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const noMilestone = args.includes("--no-milestone");
+const forceNarrow = args.includes("--narrow");
+const unhealthy = args.includes("--unhealthy");
+const modeArg = args.find(a => ["--small", "--min"].includes(a));
+const widgetMode = modeArg === "--small" ? "small" : modeArg === "--min" ? "min" : "full";
+const widthArg = args.find(a => /^\d+$/.test(a));
+const width = forceNarrow ? 80 : (parseInt(widthArg ?? "", 10) || process.stdout.columns || 120);
+
+// ── Mock data ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const mockTasks = [
+  { id: "T01", title: "Core type definitions & interfaces", done: true },
+  { id: "T02", title: "Database schema migration", done: true },
+  { id: "T03", title: "API route handlers", done: true },
+  { id: "T04", title: "Authentication middleware", done: false },
+  { id: "T05", title: "Unit & integration tests", done: false },
+  { id: "T06", title: "Documentation updates", done: false },
+];
+
+const currentTaskId = "T04";
+const milestoneTitle = "Core Patching Daemon";
+const sliceId = "S04";
+const sliceTitle = "CI gate";
+const unitId = noMilestone ? "some-unit-id" : "M001-07dqzj/S04";
+const verb = noMilestone ? "executing" : "completing";
+const phaseLabel = noMilestone ? "EXECUTE" : "COMPLETE";
+const modeTag = "AUTO";
+const elapsed = "1h 23m";
+const slicesDone = 3;
+const slicesTotal = 6;
+const taskNum = 4;
+const taskTotal = 6;
+const etaShort = "~47m left";
+const pwd = noMilestone
+  ? "my-project (main)"
+  : "worktrees/M001 (\u2387 M001-07dqzj)";
+// Mock token/cost stats — simplified 3 items
+const mockHitRate = 85;
+const mockCost = "$18.67";
+const mockCtxUsage = "35%/200k";
+const modelDisplay = "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6";
+// Mock last commit
+const lastCommitTimeAgo = "3m";
+const lastCommitMessage = "fix auth middleware";
+
+// Health states
+const healthStates = unhealthy
+  ? [
+    { icon: "!", color: "warning", summary: "Struggling — 2 consecutive error unit(s)" },
+    { icon: "x", color: "error", summary: "Stuck — 4 consecutive error units" },
+  ]
+  : [{ icon: "o", color: "success", summary: "Progressing well" }];
+
+// ── Render helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function rightAlign(left: string, right: string, w: number): string {
+  const leftVis = visibleWidth(left);
+  const rightVis = visibleWidth(right);
+  const gap = Math.max(1, w - leftVis - rightVis);
+  return truncateToWidth(left + " ".repeat(gap) + right, w);
+}
+
+function padToWidth(s: string, colWidth: number): string {
+  const vis = visibleWidth(s);
+  if (vis >= colWidth) return truncateToWidth(s, colWidth);
+  return s + " ".repeat(colWidth - vis);
+}
+
+// ── Render ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function render(w: number, healthState: { icon: string; color: string; summary: string }): string[] {
+  const ui = makeUI(theme as any, w);
+  const lines: string[] = [];
+  const pad = INDENT.base;
+
+  // Top bar
+  lines.push(...ui.bar());
+
+  // Header: GSD AUTO + health ... elapsed + ETA
+  const dot = theme.fg("accent", GLYPH.statusActive);
+  const healthIcon = healthState.color === "success" ? "o"
+    : healthState.color === "warning" ? "!"
+      : "x";
+  const healthStr = `  ${theme.fg(healthState.color, healthIcon)} ${theme.fg(healthState.color, healthState.summary)}`;
+  const headerLeft = `${pad}${dot} ${theme.fg("accent", theme.bold("GSD"))}  ${theme.fg("success", modeTag)}${healthStr}`;
+  const headerRight = `${theme.fg("dim", elapsed)} ${theme.fg("dim", "·")} ${theme.fg("dim", etaShort)}`;
+  lines.push(rightAlign(headerLeft, headerRight, w));
+
+  // ── min mode: header only ──────────────────────────────────────────
+  if (widgetMode === "min") {
+    lines.push(...ui.bar());
+    return lines;
+  }
+
+  // ── small mode: header + action + progress + compact stats ─────────
+  if (widgetMode === "small") {
+    lines.push("");
+    const target = noMilestone ? unitId : `${currentTaskId}: ${mockTasks.find(t => t.id === currentTaskId)!.title}`;
+    const actionLeft = `${pad}${theme.fg("accent", "▸")} ${theme.fg("accent", verb)}  ${theme.fg("text", target)}`;
+    lines.push(rightAlign(actionLeft, theme.fg("dim", phaseLabel), w));
+
+    if (!noMilestone) {
+      const barWidth = Math.max(6, Math.min(18, Math.floor(w * 0.25)));
+      const pct = slicesDone / slicesTotal;
+      const filled = Math.round(pct * barWidth);
+      const bar = theme.fg("success", "━".repeat(filled))
+        + theme.fg("dim", "─".repeat(barWidth - filled));
+      const meta = `${theme.fg("text", `${slicesDone}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${slicesTotal} slices`)}` +
+        `${theme.fg("dim", " · task ")}${theme.fg("accent", `${taskNum}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${taskTotal}`)}`;
+      lines.push(`${pad}${bar} ${meta}`);
+    }
+
+    const smallStats = [
+      theme.fg("warning", "$18.67"),
+      theme.fg("dim", "35.2%ctx"),
+    ];
+    lines.push(rightAlign("", smallStats.join(theme.fg("dim", "  ")), w));
+
+    lines.push(...ui.bar());
+    return lines;
+  }
+
+  // ── full mode ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  lines.push("");
+
+  // Context section: milestone + slice + model
+  if (!noMilestone) {
+    const modelTag = theme.fg("muted", `  ${modelDisplay}`);
+    lines.push(truncateToWidth(`${pad}${theme.fg("dim", milestoneTitle)}${modelTag}`, w));
+    lines.push(truncateToWidth(
+      `${pad}${theme.fg("text", theme.bold(`${sliceId}: ${sliceTitle}`))}`,
+      w,
+    ));
+    lines.push("");
+  }
+
+  // Action line
+  const target = noMilestone ? unitId : `${currentTaskId}: ${mockTasks.find(t => t.id === currentTaskId)!.title}`;
+  const actionLeft = `${pad}${theme.fg("accent", "▸")} ${theme.fg("accent", verb)}  ${theme.fg("text", target)}`;
+  const phaseBadge = theme.fg("dim", phaseLabel);
+  lines.push(rightAlign(actionLeft, phaseBadge, w));
+  lines.push("");
+
+  // Two-column body — pad left to fixed width, concatenate right
+  const minTwoColWidth = 76;
+  const hasTasks = !noMilestone;
+  const useTwoCol = w >= minTwoColWidth && hasTasks;
+  const leftColWidth = useTwoCol
+    ? Math.floor(w * (w >= 100 ? 0.45 : 0.50))
+    : w;
+
+  // Left column
+  const leftLines: string[] = [];
+
+  if (!noMilestone) {
+    const barWidth = Math.max(6, Math.min(18, Math.floor(leftColWidth * 0.4)));
+    const pct = slicesDone / slicesTotal;
+    const filled = Math.round(pct * barWidth);
+    const bar = theme.fg("success", "━".repeat(filled))
+      + theme.fg("dim", "─".repeat(barWidth - filled));
+    const meta = `${theme.fg("text", `${slicesDone}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${slicesTotal} slices`)}`
+      + `${theme.fg("dim", " · task ")}${theme.fg("accent", `${taskNum}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${taskTotal}`)}`;
+    leftLines.push(`${pad}${bar} ${meta}`);
+  }
+
+  // Right column: task checklist — ASCII glyphs only (* > .)
+  const rightLines: string[] = [];
+
+  function fmtTask(t: typeof mockTasks[0]): string {
+    const isCurrent = t.id === currentTaskId;
+    const glyph = t.done
+      ? theme.fg("success", "*")
+      : isCurrent
+        ? theme.fg("accent", ">")
+        : theme.fg("dim", ".");
+    const id = isCurrent
+      ? theme.fg("accent", t.id)
+      : t.done
+        ? theme.fg("muted", t.id)
+        : theme.fg("dim", t.id);
+    const title = isCurrent
+      ? theme.fg("text", t.title)
+      : t.done
+        ? theme.fg("muted", t.title)
+        : theme.fg("text", t.title);
+    return `${glyph} ${id}: ${title}`;
+  }
+
+  if (useTwoCol) {
+    for (const t of mockTasks) rightLines.push(fmtTask(t));
+  } else if (hasTasks) {
+    for (const t of mockTasks) leftLines.push(`${pad}${fmtTask(t)}`);
+  }
+
+  // Compose columns — pad left to fixed width, concatenate right
+  if (useTwoCol) {
+    const maxRows = Math.max(leftLines.length, rightLines.length);
+    lines.push("");
+    for (let i = 0; i < maxRows; i++) {
+      const left = padToWidth(truncateToWidth(leftLines[i] ?? "", leftColWidth), leftColWidth);
+      const right = rightLines[i] ?? "";
+      lines.push(`${left}${right}`);
+    }
+  } else {
+    lines.push("");
+    for (const l of leftLines) lines.push(truncateToWidth(l, w));
+  }
+
+  // Footer: simplified stats + pwd + last commit + hints
+  lines.push("");
+  const hitColor = mockHitRate >= 70 ? "success" : mockHitRate >= 40 ? "warning" : "error";
+  const statsParts = [
+    theme.fg(hitColor, `${mockHitRate}%hit`),
+    theme.fg("warning", mockCost),
+    theme.fg("dim", mockCtxUsage),
+  ];
+  const statsStr = statsParts.join(theme.fg("dim", "  "));
+  lines.push(rightAlign("", statsStr, w));
+  // PWD + last commit
+  const pwdStr = theme.fg("dim", pwd);
+  const commitStr = theme.fg("dim", `${lastCommitTimeAgo} ago: ${lastCommitMessage}`);
+  lines.push(rightAlign(`${pad}${pwdStr}`, truncateToWidth(commitStr, Math.floor(w * 0.45)), w));
+  // Hints
+  const hintStr = theme.fg("dim", "esc pause | ⌃⌥G dashboard");
+  lines.push(rightAlign("", hintStr, w));
+
+  lines.push(...ui.bar());
+
+  return lines;
+}
+
+// ── Main ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+for (const healthState of healthStates) {
+  const label = noMilestone ? "no-milestone" : `${width} cols`;
+  console.log(`\n  Preview: ${label}, health=${healthState.color}\n`);
+  for (const line of render(width, healthState)) {
+    console.log(line);
+  }
+}
+console.log();
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
index 3f2ed8a52..5f44e763e 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
@@ -10,15 +10,19 @@ import type { ExtensionContext, ExtensionCommandContext, SessionMessageEntry } f
 import type { GSDState } from "./types.js";
 import { getCurrentBranch } from "./worktree.js";
 import { getActiveHook } from "./post-unit-hooks.js";
-import { getLedger, getProjectTotals, formatCost, formatTokenCount, formatTierSavings } from "./metrics.js";
+import { getLedger, getProjectTotals } from "./metrics.js";
 import {
   resolveMilestoneFile,
   resolveSliceFile,
 } from "./paths.js";
 import { parseRoadmap, parsePlan } from "./files.js";
-import { readFileSync, existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { truncateToWidth, visibleWidth } from "@gsd/pi-tui";
 import { makeUI, GLYPH, INDENT } from "../shared/mod.js";
+import { computeProgressScore } from "./progress-score.js";
+import { getActiveWorktreeName } from "./worktree-command.js";
+import { loadEffectiveGSDPreferences, getGlobalGSDPreferencesPath } from "./preferences.js";
 
 // ─── Dashboard Data ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -204,6 +208,13 @@ export function estimateTimeRemaining(): string | null {
 
 // ─── Slice Progress Cache ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+/** Cached task detail for the widget task checklist */
+interface CachedTaskDetail {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  done: boolean;
+}
+
 /** Cached slice progress for the widget — avoid async in render */
 let cachedSliceProgress: {
   done: number;
@@ -211,6 +222,8 @@ let cachedSliceProgress: {
   milestoneId: string;
   /** Real task progress for the active slice, if its plan file exists */
   activeSliceTasks: { done: number; total: number } | null;
+  /** Full task list for the active slice checklist */
+  taskDetails: CachedTaskDetail[] | null;
 } | null = null;
 
 export function updateSliceProgressCache(base: string, mid: string, activeSid?: string): void {
@@ -221,6 +234,7 @@ export function updateSliceProgressCache(base: string, mid: string, activeSid?:
     const roadmap = parseRoadmap(content);
 
     let activeSliceTasks: { done: number; total: number } | null = null;
+    let taskDetails: CachedTaskDetail[] | null = null;
     if (activeSid) {
       try {
         const planFile = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, activeSid, "PLAN");
@@ -231,6 +245,7 @@ export function updateSliceProgressCache(base: string, mid: string, activeSid?:
             done: plan.tasks.filter(t => t.done).length,
             total: plan.tasks.length,
           };
+          taskDetails = plan.tasks.map(t => ({ id: t.id, title: t.title, done: t.done }));
         }
       } catch {
         // Non-fatal — just omit task count
@@ -242,13 +257,14 @@ export function updateSliceProgressCache(base: string, mid: string, activeSid?:
       total: roadmap.slices.length,
       milestoneId: mid,
       activeSliceTasks,
+      taskDetails,
     };
   } catch {
     // Non-fatal — widget just won't show progress bar
   }
 }
 
-export function getRoadmapSlicesSync(): { done: number; total: number; activeSliceTasks: { done: number; total: number } | null } | null {
+export function getRoadmapSlicesSync(): { done: number; total: number; activeSliceTasks: { done: number; total: number } | null; taskDetails: CachedTaskDetail[] | null } | null {
   return cachedSliceProgress;
 }
 
@@ -256,6 +272,41 @@ export function clearSliceProgressCache(): void {
   cachedSliceProgress = null;
 }
 
+// ─── Last Commit Cache ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Cached last commit info — refreshed on the 15s timer, not every render */
+let cachedLastCommit: { timeAgo: string; message: string } | null = null;
+let lastCommitFetchedAt = 0;
+
+function refreshLastCommit(basePath: string): void {
+  try {
+    const raw = execFileSync("git", ["log", "-1", "--format=%cr|%s"], {
+      cwd: basePath,
+      encoding: "utf-8",
+      stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+      timeout: 3000,
+    }).trim();
+    const sep = raw.indexOf("|");
+    if (sep > 0) {
+      cachedLastCommit = {
+        timeAgo: raw.slice(0, sep).replace(/ ago$/, "").replace(/ /g, ""),
+        message: raw.slice(sep + 1),
+      };
+    }
+    lastCommitFetchedAt = Date.now();
+  } catch {
+    // Non-fatal — just skip last commit display
+  }
+}
+
+function getLastCommit(basePath: string): { timeAgo: string; message: string } | null {
+  // Refresh at most every 15 seconds
+  if (Date.now() - lastCommitFetchedAt > 15_000) {
+    refreshLastCommit(basePath);
+  }
+  return cachedLastCommit;
+}
+
 // ─── Footer Factory ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
@@ -269,6 +320,67 @@ export const hideFooter = () => ({
   dispose() {},
 });
 
+// ─── Widget Display Mode ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Widget display modes: full → small → min → off → full */
+export type WidgetMode = "full" | "small" | "min" | "off";
+const WIDGET_MODES: WidgetMode[] = ["full", "small", "min", "off"];
+let widgetMode: WidgetMode = "full";
+let widgetModeInitialized = false;
+
+/** Load widget mode from preferences (once). */
+function ensureWidgetModeLoaded(): void {
+  if (widgetModeInitialized) return;
+  widgetModeInitialized = true;
+  try {
+    const loaded = loadEffectiveGSDPreferences();
+    const saved = loaded?.preferences?.widget_mode;
+    if (saved && WIDGET_MODES.includes(saved as WidgetMode)) {
+      widgetMode = saved as WidgetMode;
+    }
+  } catch { /* non-fatal — use default */ }
+}
+
+/** Persist widget mode to global preferences YAML. */
+function persistWidgetMode(mode: WidgetMode): void {
+  try {
+    const prefsPath = getGlobalGSDPreferencesPath();
+    let content = "";
+    if (existsSync(prefsPath)) {
+      content = readFileSync(prefsPath, "utf-8");
+    }
+    const line = `widget_mode: ${mode}`;
+    const re = /^widget_mode:\s*\S+/m;
+    if (re.test(content)) {
+      content = content.replace(re, line);
+    } else {
+      content = content.trimEnd() + "\n" + line + "\n";
+    }
+    writeFileSync(prefsPath, content, "utf-8");
+  } catch { /* non-fatal — mode still set in memory */ }
+}
+
+/** Cycle to the next widget mode. Returns the new mode. */
+export function cycleWidgetMode(): WidgetMode {
+  ensureWidgetModeLoaded();
+  const idx = WIDGET_MODES.indexOf(widgetMode);
+  widgetMode = WIDGET_MODES[(idx + 1) % WIDGET_MODES.length];
+  persistWidgetMode(widgetMode);
+  return widgetMode;
+}
+
+/** Set widget mode directly. */
+export function setWidgetMode(mode: WidgetMode): void {
+  widgetMode = mode;
+  persistWidgetMode(widgetMode);
+}
+
+/** Get current widget mode. */
+export function getWidgetMode(): WidgetMode {
+  ensureWidgetModeLoaded();
+  return widgetMode;
+}
+
 // ─── Progress Widget ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /** State accessors passed to updateProgressWidget to avoid direct global access */
@@ -295,19 +407,32 @@ export function updateProgressWidget(
   const mid = state.activeMilestone;
   const slice = state.activeSlice;
   const task = state.activeTask;
-  const next = peekNext(unitType, state);
+  const isHook = unitType.startsWith("hook/");
 
   // Cache git branch at widget creation time (not per render)
   let cachedBranch: string | null = null;
   try { cachedBranch = getCurrentBranch(accessors.getBasePath()); } catch { /* not in git repo */ }
 
-  // Cache pwd with ~ substitution
-  let widgetPwd = process.cwd();
-  const widgetHome = process.env.HOME || process.env.USERPROFILE;
-  if (widgetHome && widgetPwd.startsWith(widgetHome)) {
-    widgetPwd = `~${widgetPwd.slice(widgetHome.length)}`;
+  // Cache short pwd (last 2 path segments only) + worktree/branch info
+  let widgetPwd: string;
+  {
+    let fullPwd = process.cwd();
+    const widgetHome = process.env.HOME || process.env.USERPROFILE;
+    if (widgetHome && fullPwd.startsWith(widgetHome)) {
+      fullPwd = `~${fullPwd.slice(widgetHome.length)}`;
+    }
+    const parts = fullPwd.split("/");
+    widgetPwd = parts.length > 2 ? parts.slice(-2).join("/") : fullPwd;
   }
-  if (cachedBranch) widgetPwd = `${widgetPwd} (${cachedBranch})`;
+  const worktreeName = getActiveWorktreeName();
+  if (worktreeName && cachedBranch) {
+    widgetPwd = `${widgetPwd} (\u2387 ${cachedBranch})`;
+  } else if (cachedBranch) {
+    widgetPwd = `${widgetPwd} (${cachedBranch})`;
+  }
+
+  // Pre-fetch last commit for display
+  refreshLastCommit(accessors.getBasePath());
 
   ctx.ui.setWidget("gsd-progress", (tui, theme) => {
     let pulseBright = true;
@@ -347,152 +472,267 @@ export function updateProgressWidget(
           : theme.fg("dim", GLYPH.statusPending);
         const elapsed = formatAutoElapsed(accessors.getAutoStartTime());
         const modeTag = accessors.isStepMode() ? "NEXT" : "AUTO";
-        const headerLeft = `${pad}${dot} ${theme.fg("accent", theme.bold("GSD"))}  ${theme.fg("success", modeTag)}`;
-        const headerRight = elapsed ? theme.fg("dim", elapsed) : "";
+
+        // Health indicator in header
+        const score = computeProgressScore();
+        const healthColor = score.level === "green" ? "success"
+          : score.level === "yellow" ? "warning"
+            : "error";
+        const healthIcon = score.level === "green" ? GLYPH.statusActive
+          : score.level === "yellow" ? "!"
+            : "x";
+        const healthStr = `  ${theme.fg(healthColor, healthIcon)} ${theme.fg(healthColor, score.summary)}`;
+
+        const headerLeft = `${pad}${dot} ${theme.fg("accent", theme.bold("GSD"))}  ${theme.fg("success", modeTag)}${healthStr}`;
+
+        // ETA in header right, after elapsed
+        const eta = estimateTimeRemaining();
+        const etaShort = eta ? eta.replace(" remaining", " left") : null;
+        const headerRight = elapsed
+          ? (etaShort
+            ? `${theme.fg("dim", elapsed)} ${theme.fg("dim", "·")} ${theme.fg("dim", etaShort)}`
+            : theme.fg("dim", elapsed))
+          : "";
         lines.push(rightAlign(headerLeft, headerRight, width));
 
-        lines.push("");
+        // ── Gather stats (needed by multiple modes) ─────────────────────
+        const cmdCtx = accessors.getCmdCtx();
+        let totalInput = 0;
+        let totalCacheRead = 0;
+        if (cmdCtx) {
+          for (const entry of cmdCtx.sessionManager.getEntries()) {
+            if (entry.type === "message") {
+              const msgEntry = entry as SessionMessageEntry;
+              if (msgEntry.message?.role === "assistant") {
+                const u = (msgEntry.message as any).usage;
+                if (u) {
+                  totalInput += u.input || 0;
+                  totalCacheRead += u.cacheRead || 0;
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        const mLedger = getLedger();
+        const autoTotals = mLedger ? getProjectTotals(mLedger.units) : null;
+        const cumulativeCost = autoTotals?.cost ?? 0;
+        const cxUsage = cmdCtx?.getContextUsage?.();
+        const cxWindow = cxUsage?.contextWindow ?? cmdCtx?.model?.contextWindow ?? 0;
+        const cxPctVal = cxUsage?.percent ?? 0;
+        const cxPct = cxUsage?.percent !== null ? cxPctVal.toFixed(1) : "?";
 
-        if (mid) {
-          lines.push(truncateToWidth(`${pad}${theme.fg("dim", mid.title)}`, width));
+        // Model display — shown in context section, not stats
+        const modelId = cmdCtx?.model?.id ?? "";
+        const modelProvider = cmdCtx?.model?.provider ?? "";
+        const modelDisplay = modelProvider && modelId
+          ? `${modelProvider}/${modelId}`
+          : modelId;
+
+        // ── Mode: off — return empty ──────────────────────────────────
+        if (widgetMode === "off") {
+          cachedLines = [];
+          cachedWidth = width;
+          return [];
         }
 
+        // ── Mode: min — header line only ──────────────────────────────
+        if (widgetMode === "min") {
+          lines.push(...ui.bar());
+          cachedLines = lines;
+          cachedWidth = width;
+          return lines;
+        }
+
+        // ── Mode: small — header + progress bar + compact stats ───────
+        if (widgetMode === "small") {
+          lines.push("");
+
+          // Action line
+          const target = task ? `${task.id}: ${task.title}` : unitId;
+          const actionLeft = `${pad}${theme.fg("accent", "▸")} ${theme.fg("accent", verb)}  ${theme.fg("text", target)}`;
+          lines.push(rightAlign(actionLeft, theme.fg("dim", phaseLabel), width));
+
+          // Progress bar
+          const roadmapSlices = mid ? getRoadmapSlicesSync() : null;
+          if (roadmapSlices) {
+            const { done, total, activeSliceTasks } = roadmapSlices;
+            const barWidth = Math.max(6, Math.min(18, Math.floor(width * 0.25)));
+            const pct = total > 0 ? done / total : 0;
+            const filled = Math.round(pct * barWidth);
+            const bar = theme.fg("success", "━".repeat(filled))
+              + theme.fg("dim", "─".repeat(barWidth - filled));
+            let meta = `${theme.fg("text", `${done}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${total} slices`)}`;
+            if (activeSliceTasks && activeSliceTasks.total > 0) {
+              const tn = Math.min(activeSliceTasks.done + 1, activeSliceTasks.total);
+              meta += `${theme.fg("dim", " · task ")}${theme.fg("accent", `${tn}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${activeSliceTasks.total}`)}`;
+            }
+            lines.push(`${pad}${bar} ${meta}`);
+          }
+
+          // Compact stats: cost + context only
+          const smallStats: string[] = [];
+          if (cumulativeCost) smallStats.push(theme.fg("warning", `$${cumulativeCost.toFixed(2)}`));
+          const cxDisplay = `${cxPct}%ctx`;
+          if (cxPctVal > 90) smallStats.push(theme.fg("error", cxDisplay));
+          else if (cxPctVal > 70) smallStats.push(theme.fg("warning", cxDisplay));
+          else smallStats.push(theme.fg("dim", cxDisplay));
+          if (smallStats.length > 0) {
+            lines.push(rightAlign("", smallStats.join(theme.fg("dim", "  ")), width));
+          }
+
+          lines.push(...ui.bar());
+          cachedLines = lines;
+          cachedWidth = width;
+          return lines;
+        }
+
+        // ── Mode: full — complete two-column layout ───────────────────
+        lines.push("");
+
+        // Context section: milestone + slice + model
+        const hasContext = !!(mid || (slice && unitType !== "research-milestone" && unitType !== "plan-milestone"));
+        if (mid) {
+          const modelTag = modelDisplay ? theme.fg("muted", `  ${modelDisplay}`) : "";
+          lines.push(truncateToWidth(`${pad}${theme.fg("dim", mid.title)}${modelTag}`, width));
+        }
         if (slice && unitType !== "research-milestone" && unitType !== "plan-milestone") {
           lines.push(truncateToWidth(
             `${pad}${theme.fg("text", theme.bold(`${slice.id}: ${slice.title}`))}`,
             width,
           ));
         }
-
-        lines.push("");
+        if (hasContext) lines.push("");
 
         const target = task ? `${task.id}: ${task.title}` : unitId;
         const actionLeft = `${pad}${theme.fg("accent", "▸")} ${theme.fg("accent", verb)}  ${theme.fg("text", target)}`;
         const tierTag = tierBadge ? theme.fg("dim", `[${tierBadge}] `) : "";
         const phaseBadge = `${tierTag}${theme.fg("dim", phaseLabel)}`;
         lines.push(rightAlign(actionLeft, phaseBadge, width));
+
         lines.push("");
 
-        if (mid) {
-          const roadmapSlices = getRoadmapSlicesSync();
-          if (roadmapSlices) {
-            const { done, total, activeSliceTasks } = roadmapSlices;
-            const barWidth = Math.max(8, Math.min(24, Math.floor(width * 0.3)));
-            const pct = total > 0 ? done / total : 0;
-            const filled = Math.round(pct * barWidth);
-            const bar = theme.fg("success", "█".repeat(filled))
-              + theme.fg("dim", "░".repeat(barWidth - filled));
+        // Two-column body
+        const minTwoColWidth = 76;
+        const roadmapSlices = mid ? getRoadmapSlicesSync() : null;
+        const taskDetailsCol = roadmapSlices?.taskDetails ?? null;
+        const useTwoCol = width >= minTwoColWidth && taskDetailsCol !== null && taskDetailsCol.length > 0;
+        const leftColWidth = useTwoCol
+          ? Math.floor(width * (width >= 100 ? 0.45 : 0.50))
+          : width;
 
-            let meta = theme.fg("dim", `${done}/${total} slices`);
+        const leftLines: string[] = [];
 
-            if (activeSliceTasks && activeSliceTasks.total > 0) {
-              const taskNum = Math.min(activeSliceTasks.done + 1, activeSliceTasks.total);
-              meta += theme.fg("dim", `  ·  task ${taskNum}/${activeSliceTasks.total}`);
-            }
+        if (roadmapSlices) {
+          const { done, total, activeSliceTasks } = roadmapSlices;
+          const barWidth = Math.max(6, Math.min(18, Math.floor(leftColWidth * 0.4)));
+          const pct = total > 0 ? done / total : 0;
+          const filled = Math.round(pct * barWidth);
+          const bar = theme.fg("success", "━".repeat(filled))
+            + theme.fg("dim", "─".repeat(barWidth - filled));
 
-            // ETA estimate
-            const eta = estimateTimeRemaining();
-            if (eta) {
-              meta += theme.fg("dim", `  ·  ${eta}`);
-            }
+          let meta = `${theme.fg("text", `${done}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${total} slices`)}`;
+          if (activeSliceTasks && activeSliceTasks.total > 0) {
+            const taskNum = isHook
+              ? Math.max(activeSliceTasks.done, 1)
+              : Math.min(activeSliceTasks.done + 1, activeSliceTasks.total);
+            meta += `${theme.fg("dim", " · task ")}${theme.fg("accent", `${taskNum}`)}${theme.fg("dim", `/${activeSliceTasks.total}`)}`;
+          }
+          leftLines.push(`${pad}${bar} ${meta}`);
+        }
 
-            lines.push(truncateToWidth(`${pad}${bar}  ${meta}`, width));
+        // Build right column: task checklist
+        const rightLines: string[] = [];
+        const maxVisibleTasks = 8;
+
+        function formatTaskLine(t: { id: string; title: string; done: boolean }, isCurrent: boolean): string {
+          const glyph = t.done
+            ? theme.fg("success", "*")
+            : isCurrent
+              ? theme.fg("accent", ">")
+              : theme.fg("dim", ".");
+          const id = isCurrent
+            ? theme.fg("accent", t.id)
+            : t.done
+              ? theme.fg("muted", t.id)
+              : theme.fg("dim", t.id);
+          const title = isCurrent
+            ? theme.fg("text", t.title)
+            : t.done
+              ? theme.fg("muted", t.title)
+              : theme.fg("text", t.title);
+          return `${glyph} ${id}: ${title}`;
+        }
+
+        if (useTwoCol && taskDetailsCol) {
+          for (const t of taskDetailsCol.slice(0, maxVisibleTasks)) {
+            rightLines.push(formatTaskLine(t, !!(task && t.id === task.id)));
+          }
+          if (taskDetailsCol.length > maxVisibleTasks) {
+            rightLines.push(theme.fg("dim", `  +${taskDetailsCol.length - maxVisibleTasks} more`));
+          }
+        } else if (!useTwoCol && taskDetailsCol && taskDetailsCol.length > 0) {
+          for (const t of taskDetailsCol.slice(0, maxVisibleTasks)) {
+            leftLines.push(`${pad}${formatTaskLine(t, !!(task && t.id === task.id))}`);
           }
         }
 
-        lines.push("");
-
-        if (next) {
-          lines.push(truncateToWidth(
-            `${pad}${theme.fg("dim", "→")} ${theme.fg("dim", `then ${next}`)}`,
-            width,
-          ));
+        // Compose columns
+        if (useTwoCol) {
+          const maxRows = Math.max(leftLines.length, rightLines.length);
+          if (maxRows > 0) {
+            lines.push("");
+            for (let i = 0; i < maxRows; i++) {
+              const left = padToWidth(truncateToWidth(leftLines[i] ?? "", leftColWidth), leftColWidth);
+              const right = rightLines[i] ?? "";
+              lines.push(`${left}${right}`);
+            }
+          }
+        } else {
+          if (leftLines.length > 0) {
+            lines.push("");
+            for (const l of leftLines) lines.push(truncateToWidth(l, width));
+          }
         }
 
-        // ── Footer info (pwd, tokens, cost, context, model) ──────────────
+        // ── Footer: simplified stats + pwd + last commit + hints ────────
         lines.push("");
-        lines.push(truncateToWidth(theme.fg("dim", `${pad}${widgetPwd}`), width, theme.fg("dim", "…")));
-
-        // Token stats from current unit session + cumulative cost from metrics
         {
-          const cmdCtx = accessors.getCmdCtx();
-          let totalInput = 0, totalOutput = 0;
-          let totalCacheRead = 0, totalCacheWrite = 0;
-          if (cmdCtx) {
-            for (const entry of cmdCtx.sessionManager.getEntries()) {
-              if (entry.type === "message") {
-                const msgEntry = entry as SessionMessageEntry;
-                if (msgEntry.message?.role === "assistant") {
-                  const u = (msgEntry.message as any).usage;
-                  if (u) {
-                    totalInput += u.input || 0;
-                    totalOutput += u.output || 0;
-                    totalCacheRead += u.cacheRead || 0;
-                    totalCacheWrite += u.cacheWrite || 0;
-                  }
-                }
-              }
-            }
-          }
-          const mLedger = getLedger();
-          const autoTotals = mLedger ? getProjectTotals(mLedger.units) : null;
-          const cumulativeCost = autoTotals?.cost ?? 0;
-
-          const cxUsage = cmdCtx?.getContextUsage?.();
-          const cxWindow = cxUsage?.contextWindow ?? cmdCtx?.model?.contextWindow ?? 0;
-          const cxPctVal = cxUsage?.percent ?? 0;
-          const cxPct = cxUsage?.percent !== null ? cxPctVal.toFixed(1) : "?";
-
           const sp: string[] = [];
-          if (totalInput) sp.push(`↑${formatWidgetTokens(totalInput)}`);
-          if (totalOutput) sp.push(`↓${formatWidgetTokens(totalOutput)}`);
-          if (totalCacheRead) sp.push(`R${formatWidgetTokens(totalCacheRead)}`);
-          if (totalCacheWrite) sp.push(`W${formatWidgetTokens(totalCacheWrite)}`);
-          // Cache hit rate for current unit
           if (totalCacheRead + totalInput > 0) {
             const hitRate = Math.round((totalCacheRead / (totalCacheRead + totalInput)) * 100);
-            sp.push(`\u26A1${hitRate}%`);
+            const hitColor = hitRate >= 70 ? "success" : hitRate >= 40 ? "warning" : "error";
+            sp.push(theme.fg(hitColor, `${hitRate}%hit`));
           }
-          if (cumulativeCost) sp.push(`$${cumulativeCost.toFixed(3)}`);
+          if (cumulativeCost) sp.push(theme.fg("warning", `$${cumulativeCost.toFixed(2)}`));
 
-          const cxDisplay = cxPct === "?"
-            ? `?/${formatWidgetTokens(cxWindow)}`
-            : `${cxPct}%/${formatWidgetTokens(cxWindow)}`;
-          if (cxPctVal > 90) {
-            sp.push(theme.fg("error", cxDisplay));
-          } else if (cxPctVal > 70) {
-            sp.push(theme.fg("warning", cxDisplay));
-          } else {
-            sp.push(cxDisplay);
-          }
+          const cxDisplay = `${cxPct}%/${formatWidgetTokens(cxWindow)}`;
+          if (cxPctVal > 90) sp.push(theme.fg("error", cxDisplay));
+          else if (cxPctVal > 70) sp.push(theme.fg("warning", cxDisplay));
+          else sp.push(cxDisplay);
 
-          const sLeft = sp.map(p => p.includes("\x1b[") ? p : theme.fg("dim", p))
-            .join(theme.fg("dim", " "));
-
-          const modelId = cmdCtx?.model?.id ?? "";
-          const modelProvider = cmdCtx?.model?.provider ?? "";
-          const modelPhase = phaseLabel ? theme.fg("dim", `[${phaseLabel}] `) : "";
-          const modelDisplay = modelProvider && modelId
-            ? `${modelProvider}/${modelId}`
-            : modelId;
-          const sRight = modelDisplay
-            ? `${modelPhase}${theme.fg("dim", modelDisplay)}`
-            : "";
-          lines.push(rightAlign(`${pad}${sLeft}`, sRight, width));
-
-          // Dynamic routing savings summary
-          if (mLedger && mLedger.units.some(u => u.tier)) {
-            const savings = formatTierSavings(mLedger.units);
-            if (savings) {
-              lines.push(truncateToWidth(theme.fg("dim", `${pad}${savings}`), width));
-            }
+          const statsLine = sp.map(p => p.includes("\x1b[") ? p : theme.fg("dim", p))
+            .join(theme.fg("dim", "  "));
+          if (statsLine) {
+            lines.push(rightAlign("", statsLine, width));
           }
         }
-
+        // PWD line with last commit info right-aligned
+        const lastCommit = getLastCommit(accessors.getBasePath());
+        const commitStr = lastCommit
+          ? theme.fg("dim", `${lastCommit.timeAgo} ago: ${lastCommit.message}`)
+          : "";
+        const pwdStr = theme.fg("dim", widgetPwd);
+        if (commitStr) {
+          lines.push(rightAlign(`${pad}${pwdStr}`, truncateToWidth(commitStr, Math.floor(width * 0.45)), width));
+        } else {
+          lines.push(`${pad}${pwdStr}`);
+        }
+        // Hints line
         const hintParts: string[] = [];
         hintParts.push("esc pause");
         hintParts.push(process.platform === "darwin" ? "⌃⌥G dashboard" : "Ctrl+Alt+G dashboard");
-        lines.push(...ui.hints(hintParts));
+        const hintStr = theme.fg("dim", hintParts.join(" | "));
+        lines.push(rightAlign("", hintStr, width));
 
         lines.push(...ui.bar());
 
@@ -521,3 +761,10 @@ function rightAlign(left: string, right: string, width: number): string {
   const gap = Math.max(1, width - leftVis - rightVis);
   return truncateToWidth(left + " ".repeat(gap) + right, width);
 }
+
+/** Pad a string with trailing spaces to fill exactly `colWidth` (ANSI-aware). */
+function padToWidth(s: string, colWidth: number): string {
+  const vis = visibleWidth(s);
+  if (vis >= colWidth) return truncateToWidth(s, colWidth);
+  return s + " ".repeat(colWidth - vis);
+}
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/commands.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/commands.ts
index e0d415602..485554242 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/commands.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/commands.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ export function registerGSDCommand(pi: ExtensionAPI): void {
         { cmd: "stop", desc: "Stop auto mode gracefully" },
         { cmd: "pause", desc: "Pause auto-mode (preserves state, /gsd auto to resume)" },
         { cmd: "status", desc: "Progress dashboard" },
+        { cmd: "widget", desc: "Cycle widget: full → small → min → off" },
         { cmd: "visualize", desc: "Open 10-tab workflow visualizer (progress, timeline, deps, metrics, health, agent, changes, knowledge, captures, export)" },
         { cmd: "queue", desc: "Queue and reorder future milestones" },
         { cmd: "quick", desc: "Execute a quick task without full planning overhead" },
@@ -508,6 +509,18 @@ export async function handleGSDCommand(
     return;
   }
 
+  if (trimmed === "widget" || trimmed.startsWith("widget ")) {
+    const { cycleWidgetMode, setWidgetMode, getWidgetMode } = await import("./auto-dashboard.js");
+    const arg = trimmed.replace(/^widget\s*/, "").trim();
+    if (arg === "full" || arg === "small" || arg === "min" || arg === "off") {
+      setWidgetMode(arg);
+    } else {
+      cycleWidgetMode();
+    }
+    ctx.ui.notify(`Widget: ${getWidgetMode()}`, "info");
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (trimmed === "visualize") {
     await handleVisualize(ctx);
     return;
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/preferences-types.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/preferences-types.ts
index 193cf4f97..7bbb75dff 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/preferences-types.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/preferences-types.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export const KNOWN_PREFERENCE_KEYS = new Set<string>([
   "search_provider",
   "compression_strategy",
   "context_selection",
+  "widget_mode",
 ]);
 
 /** Canonical list of all dispatch unit types. */
@@ -212,6 +213,8 @@ export interface GSDPreferences {
   compression_strategy?: CompressionStrategy;
   /** Context selection mode for file inlining. "full" inlines entire files, "smart" uses semantic chunking. Default derived from token profile. */
   context_selection?: ContextSelectionMode;
+  /** Default widget display mode for auto-mode dashboard. "full" | "small" | "min" | "off". Default: "full". */
+  widget_mode?: "full" | "small" | "min" | "off";
 }
 
 export interface LoadedGSDPreferences {